Note to editors: This is an extract of a speech prepared for delivery today (April 9) in Riverlea, Johannesburg. DA Leader Helen Zille was there to address the community on the DA's record in fighting corruption

Fellow South Africans,

We are here today in Riverlea to address an issue that I know makes you very angry. That is the issue of corruption. Corruption is a sickness in our society. It is like a cancer that spreads through the body politic and kills off the prospects of the poor.

Corruption is when somebody abuses their power for their own personal gain. When councillors don't do their jobs, they are corrupt. They are corrupt because they are being paid taxpayers' money for doing nothing. And so I have a question for you: Have you seen your local councillor lately?

I thought not.

But, from what I hear, the problem with your local councillor is even worse than that. It is alleged that he abused his position to get a discounted house in Riverlea from a property developer. He allegedly got this discount because he helped the developer get the contract to build RDP houses in Pennyville and bond houses in Riverlea.

But the people of Riverlea didn't want bond houses that they could not afford. They wanted RDP housing. Now the people have lost out because these bond houses were built on land that was originally earmarked for RDP housing. People had even been allocated stand numbers for the RDP housing project. But it was not to be.

That is how corruption kills the prospects of the poor. While your councilor enjoys the comfort of his new house, the poor people of this community are still in the shacks and the backyards. This case of alleged corruption is currently being investigated by the South African Human Rights Commission. It has been dragging on since 2007 because, when your councillor was subpoenaed to appear before the Human Rights Commission, he did not turn up. He did not use that opportunity to clear his name.

In the meantime, do you think that the conduct of the councillor has been investigated by the Johannesburg City Council? And do you think he has been investigated by the ANC? Of course he hasn't. Instead, he has been given the chance to keep his seat at this election. He is the ANC's candidate for this ward. And he still has a cloud over his head.

It doesn't have to be like this in Riverlea. You don't have to tolerate corruption. Not long ago, there was a DA councillor in the City of Cape Town who abused the people's trust.

This councillor took people's housing deposits and put the money in her own pocket instead of in a trust fund. Many of the people are still waiting for their houses. And some of them never got all their money back.

But this councillor didn't stop there. She used her influence in the Council to secure a R30 000 grant for a family-owned crèche that no longer existed. The money went to a member of her family.

Do you think she got away with it? No, she didn't.

Last year, a disciplinary committee in the DA-governed City of Cape Town found the Councillor guilty on 8 charges of misconduct and 1 charge of fraud. The Council voted to remove her from office. The decision was ratified by the DA MEC for Provincial and Local Government.

The DA doesn't just talk about getting rid of corrupt politicians. We actually do it. Since the DA took over the City of Cape Town in 2006, the Council has voted to remove one councillor for bribery, four councillors for theft or misuse of council facilities and six councillors for missing three meetings in a row.

Can you imagine that happening in the Johannesburg City Council?

At this local election, it is not up to the DA to make sure you get a councillor who is corruption-free. It is up to you. You have the power to choose a councillor that will put your needs first.

You have the power to choose a councillor that cares more about the people than their pocket. You can choose five more years of bribery, corruption and poor service delivery. Or you can choose the DA.

So, whatever you do, make sure you vote on the 18 May.

And vote DA.

Because the DA delivers for all!

Issued by the Democratic Alliance, April 9 2011

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