Democratic Alliance (DA) Attitude, a Serious Threat to our Democracy
02 August 2012
The Young Communist League of South Africa (Ufasimba) in the Brian Bunting District has learnt with shock the opening of intimidation case by Helen Zille against the ANCYL in the Cape Metro over legitimate service delivery demands. Zille claims "this threat comes against the backdrop of a number of violent service delivery protests that have taken place in the city".
We are flabbergasted that Zille sees people's demands for improvement of their deplorable living conditions as acts of crime. To us, this cheap politicking and attention seeking strategy seeks to divert society away from DA failures. The shifting of focus is yet another desperate attempt to save her government's image. While we condemn the destruction of property during any mass action, we equally condemn any tendency that seeks to hide incompetence behind these destructions.
The nature of service delivery protests in Cape Town is not different to protest happening elsewhere in the country. To claim that these marches are political motivated to create instability in DA-led Western Cape is laughable and without basis. It is irresponsible and opportunistic of DA to reduce people's demands to such conspiracies.
As self-anointed defenders of Constitution, DA should know that everyone has a right to demonstrate, picket and present petitions when government is not responsive to their needs. This is a universal right not only for liberal-sponsored NGOs but also for those who politically differ with DA, including ANCYL whose march was peaceful and violent-free compared to the ugly scenes witnessed during DA's attack at Cosatu House. This liberal offensive directed towards progressive forces of our congress movement poses danger to our society.
It is an onslaught that is aimed at undermining our movement and its hard-won political gains, and it must be confronted. DA uses every trick including the abuse and misuse of overstretched public resources. State institutions must never be used for political scores but for delivery of services to our people. As a voice of young people, ANCYL is not a threat to our society but a threat to a DA-regime that defines itself as an enemy of our people. South Africa is not a police State, but a constitutional democracy. Police must investigate child murders, drug-trafficking and gangsterism that are tearing apart our communities, not peaceful marchers.
The struggles of the downtrodden who die in squalors as a result of DA's isolationist policy will never be diverted by these threats. Even the brutal regime of apartheid never succeeded in suppressing our voice. We are resolute in our struggles and we call upon the revolutionary youth in Cape Town to put aside ideological differences and tackle the enemy of our people in defence of our revolution.
Statement cde Sizwe Nyenyiso District Interim Leadership Core, Young Communist League Brian Bunting District, August 3 2012
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