DA’s plans for a ‘New Beginning’
The DA Congress, held at the Tshwane Events Centre from on April 7-8, delivered on its promise of a “New Beginning” by passing a raft of resolutions for a prosperous future for all South Africans.
Numerous resolutions were put forward to reverse years of exclusion and discrimination that the majority of South Africans endured under the apartheid system.
The congress agreed that land is both a justice and economic inclusion issue which must be addressed.
The skewed land ownership patterns of the past must be addressed if South Africa was to create an inclusive society for all.
However, this does not require a change to section 25 of the constitution, but rather the political will and a committed legislative and administrative leadership to enact the constitution as intended to devise suitable land reform initiatives.
Most importantly, delegates resolved to pursue urban land reform through a modern lens, by a modern government for modern people who do not necessarily want to farm. We need to ensure that beneficiaries of state-subsidised housing projects receive their title deeds quickly and efficiently.
On health, the congress was alive to the disproportionate burden facing the public healthcare system. To mitigate these challenges, a DA national government will introduce an Expanded Clinic Building Programme in areas which are under served, make available R2 billion for health skills development, introduce extended clinic operating hours and provide clinics for settlements which are not formalised.
Delegates also agreed that our education system needed an overhaul through the appointment of skilled educators, digitisation and upskilling of matriculants through a technical and vocational learning and skills development sector.
The resolutions passed at the DA congress will form the basis of our 2019 election manifesto and we are confident that South Africans will partner with us in creating a future we can all be proud of.
THOMAS WALTERS
DA deputy chairperson of Federal Council