DA's bold manifesto: Tackling corruption and improving municipal governance

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has unveiled a bold manifesto focusing on addressing corruption and enhancing municipal governance ahead of the upcoming local government elections on November 4. Party leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, who also serves as Cape Town mayor, outlined three key guarantees in his speech at a rally in Newtown, Johannesburg, attended by thousands of supporters.

The first guarantee focuses on ensuring that municipal jobs are allocated to qualified individuals rather than those connected to politicians. Hill-Lewis emphasized that dishonest professionals should not be in charge of administrations, and that accountability must be enforced when public money is mishandled.

The second guarantee establishes that money collected for water and electricity can only be spent on their respective services, with no room for waste or misappropriation. The party aims to prevent public money from being treated as a political slush fund and instead used to repair infrastructure, such as pipes and substations.

The third guarantee centers on local economies and safety, promising the DA-run municipalities the power to investigate crimes and ensure proper evidence reaches prosecutors for convictions. The manifesto also commits the party to amend the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, making it a crime to incite land invasions and tightening court considerations for alternative accommodation.

Additionally, DA municipalities will be responsible for paying for services, including water, electricity, and waste removal, with cost-reflective tariffs and the establishment of hotlines for residents to report shacks before they become permanent structures.