ANC at odds with truth

IT APPEARS that the ANC has learnt nothing from its sorry losses in BCM by-elections in recent years, with its communications manager Gift Ngqondi reportedly saying (DD June 8) that “we are delighted with the fortitude and progress” shown in its ward 18 result in Wednesday’s by-election.

In 2014, following its debacle in the then ward 4 by-election in which it received a paltry 246 votes or 6.87%, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, then ANC provincial election head, was quoted as saying he was happy with the outcome and that “the ANC is represented in every ward in the country”, a statement clearly, then as now, at odds with the truth.

Four years later, in a by-election covering similar territory, the ANC is delighted to have received 123 votes in ward 18, exactly half its previous total.

Indeed, the DA did canvass at Qoboshiyane’s door and was greeted with appreciation. He thanking our activists for their efforts as he had not been visited by the ANC. This was obviously such a gross oversight on its part as Qoboshiyane was not noticed amongst the 23 ANC voters who appeared at the voting station he would have attended.

Ngqondi continues that this is something “which we will build on towards the 2019 national elections”.

As a crumbling edifice, it hardly provides any foundation on which to build a credible face to present to an electorate increasingly disillusioned with a quarter century of unfulfilled ANC promises and rampant corruption and ineptitude.

In contrast, the DA, in growing its support from 88% in 2016 to more than 96% in ward 18, has built a solid foundation on which to confidently campaign for next year’s election in which its record of good governance, rejection of corruption and holding public representatives and officials accountable is a message increasingly resonating with an electorate ever more aware that democracy is about a better future than a better past.

In 2019, the DA is offering to bring change that will create order and jobs, ensure a safer society and build one South Africa for all. — William Gould, Baysville