Rise Mzansi set to launch its manifesto
Political start-up Rise Mzansi is expected this week to conduct mobilisation and visibility activities around the country ahead of its election manifesto launch in Tshwane at the weekend.
Several political parties are to launch election manifestos for the 2024 general election. The ANC and EFF are expected to launch theirs in February.
Rise Mzansi, formed in April 2023 and led by author and former Business Day editor Songezo Zibi, wants every family to have three full meals a day; rural households to have drinkable water; a decent and affordable housing solution; and mental healthcare facilities and other government services.
At its People’s Convention in 2023, delegates discussed convention themes focusing on family in all its forms, community, governance, the economy, nation building and climate change.
The party says urgent steps need to be taken to reduce the worsening fiscal crisis; reallocate funds for food security; basic needs support and early childhood development; and fighting organised financial crime.
Zibi says poor governance by bad politicians and corrupt political parties stand in the way of prosperity and economic justice in SA.
Rise Mzansi national chief organiser Makashule Gana said the party is on track to contest the elections with a message that “it is possible to wrest SA, so that we can eradicate poverty, end racism, end inequality and ensure the employment of our people”.
“It is in the hands of the people to remove the tried and tired political establishment that continues to lie to and loot from the people.
“When we say 2024 is 1994, it is an articulation of the idea that every vote has the opportunity to build the SA we truly deserve,” said Gana.
The DA is due on Monday to conduct an oversight inspection at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) office in Cape Town.
“The purpose of the oversight is to evaluate their preparedness for the upcoming distribution of grants to hundreds of thousands of students for the academic year. The DA will seek to ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation and distribution of financial aid to deserving students” said the party.
“Our focus will be on assessing the efficiency, accuracy and accessibility of [the] NSFAS processes, ultimately aiming to enhance the support provided to students pursuing higher education.”
The DA delegation will be led by shadow higher education minister Chantal King and will include DA Student Organisation (Daso) federal leader Liam Jacobs, shadow deputy higher education minister Karabo Khakhau and Daso federal chair Lenard Malesa.
SA is expected to host the seventh African Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba in Mbombela from Monday to Wednesday. The theme of the meeting will be “Africa’s global commitment to the Cuban Revolution”.