DA upbeat on poll prospects, says Maimane

THE road to 2019 is now well and truly under way for the DA, party leader Mmusi Maimane declared in Pretoria yesterday.

“According to our polling, the ANC remains around the 50% mark nationally and faces the possibility of electoral defeat in the 2019 national elections.

“The people have shown they are finished with the ANC and ready for a new beginning under the DA-led national coalition government.”

Maimane was speaking after the party’s highest decision-making body, the federal congress, convened in the city for its final sitting of the year.

Maimane said that in preparation for national government, the DA had officially begun crafting a new fleet of policy offers aimed at creating jobs and opportunities, especially for the youth.

The DA was determined to eradicate corruption, state capture and ultimately restore hope to the country and its people, he said.

The MP said the DA saw growth in every community and attracted the youth. Its student body won the SRC elections at the University of Pretoria and the University of Cape Town.

“Two policy documents integral to our vision for South Africa were tabled at the federal council.

“One is on fighting corruption, and the other on what we term the opportunity ladder, a cradle-to-career plan which intersects social development, basic education, higher education, and small business development.

“At the centre of these policy ideas is a concrete plan to put an end to the cancer of corruption in government, and to ensure that we create opportunity and jobs for the millions currently without hope.”

Some key features of the policy discussion documents included doubling the child support grant to cover the nutritional needs of all poor children, he said.

The party also included the introduction of a job seekers allowance for unemployed youth, and a voluntary national civilian service year for matriculants.

The voluntary national civilian service would ensure young people entered into work-based training in community healthcare, basic education or policing, Maimane said.

“These documents deal primarily with equipping those left behind to play a meaningful role in the economy. Other new policy documents include one on crime and safety, which will add to our universal health care plan.”

He said the party’s coalition with other parties was good. There would be tough discussions, but that did not necessarily mean the end.

“Coalitions are like marriage – far from perfect, a lot of hard work, and hitting stumbling blocks due to miscommunication. But they are vital in removing the ANC from governance across the country.”