STRAIGHT TALK

21 April 2023

How should a President, Premier or Mayor respond to an allegation of corruption leveled against a member or members of their cabinet or council?

On Wednesday I received a reply from President Ramaphosa to a parliamentary question I posed to him last month asking him how he has responded to the serious allegations made by former Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter that two members of Ramaphosa’s cabinet are implicated in rampant corruption and organised crime at Eskom. (You can read more about this here.)

Stark comparison

President Ramaphosa confirmed he has done nothing at all, claiming it is up to law enforcement agencies alone to take whatever action they deem relevant. Compare this non-response to that taken by DA Mayor of Cape Town Geordin Hill-Lewis last month.

On learning of serious allegations of corruption against Councillor Malusi Booi, he suspended him from his position on the Mayoral Committee with immediate effect and assured the SAPS of the City’s full support in the investigation.

The DA takes a zero tolerance approach to corruption and will act against it immediately in the interests of good governance. This is the DA difference that voters should consider when they choose a government to lead South Africa after the national election in 2024.

Link

The link between good governing principles and human wellbeing is not always obvious. But it is always there. By suspending seriously implicated Councillor Booi immediately, Mayor Hill-Lewis removed the possibility of further corruption, thereby protecting the integrity of the City, while also sending a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated.

This is the principled, decisive leadership South Africa needs if we are to achieve progress and prosperity for our country. Because this is the way to build an honest, people-focused government that delivers better services and spends taxpayer money on residents.

Voters need to know the core principles of the different political parties, and they need to understand how those core principles translate to human wellbeing. The DA’s core principles are our commitment to non-racialism, the rule of law, building a capable state and enabling a market economy.

Another important example of how a party’s core principles affect human wellbeing came to light this week.

Starlink

In a written response to another DA question, the ANC this week confirmed that South Africans will not receive free internet or data via Elon Musk’s Starlink unless at least 30% of the international multibillion dollar company that can provide this is handed over to ANC cronies. (You can read more about this here.)

By holding firm on its race-based policy of BEE which unfairly enriches the ANC-connected elite at the expense of the poor majority, the ANC is denying children in the most rural areas of South Africa access to information and learning materials.

By comparison, the DA in national government would hold firm to our principle of nonracialism and put the people of South Africa first, welcoming Starlink to operate in South Africa. Consider the very real difference this would make to people’s ability to access information and build their lives and businesses.

Conclusion

The national election in 2024 is your chance to assert your principles by voting for the party which is most closely aligned with the values and principles you would like to see in government. In 2024, a vote for the DA will be a vote for accountability, a vote for nonracialism, and a vote that puts South Africa first.

Yours sincerely,

John Steenhuisen