Parties hunker down for poll

Spokespeople name hot button issues they expect to benefit them in May 8 election

THE ANC yesterday acknowledged that it would not yet be able to take back the Western Cape from the DA while the leading opposition party in the country has its sights firmly set on that province, Gauteng and the Northern Cape.

The ANC, DA, IFP and UDM responded to questions from Independent Media about the issues they will focus on in the build-up to the national general elections. ANC acting spokesperson Dakota Legoete said although the ruling party was pulling all strings to reclaim the Western Cape, which it lost to the DA in 2009, it was ambitious to expect this to take place after May 8.

“As the ANC we would not want to be ambitious but we are going to reclaim the Western Cape even if it is after May 8. At some stage we are going to reclaim the Western Cape,” said Legoete.

Legoete said currently the ANC was working around the clock to protect Gauteng from opposition parties, having already lost its key metros – Johannesburg and Tshwane.

Marshalle Frederiks, a DA spokesperson, said next month’s elections “create an opportunity for South Africans to choose a party that can bring true change to South Africa”.

“The DA is asking for five years to turn South Africa around. If we fail, the people must vote us out. However, our delivery track record in the Western Cape, Tshwane, Johannesburg and our legacy in Nelson Mandela Bay is proof that a DA government will speed up basic services; put a job in every home; secure our borders; bring an honest and professional police service; and stop corruption,” Frederiks said.

The IFP’s national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, said the elections would be a watershed moment for the country. “South Africa as a whole is on the brink of failure as a state, with widespread, endemic corruption in our public services and almost a total failure in terms of basic service delivery.

“For the IFP these elections will redefine the party as it moves forward into our maturing democracy and in service of the people of South Africa.”

He said the party believed anti-corruption and a rebuilding of the justice cluster, the provision of quality education, accessible healthcare, and basic service delivery such as water, electricity and sanitation were crucial hot button issues.

The UDM said the country’s economy and its attending challenges are at the heart of all South Africa’s problems with the issue of job creation at the forefront. Spokesperson Jana Warffemius said the party was focused on ensuring the prosperity and dignity of all South Africans.

“Of course many political parties have hung their hats on the land matter and the UDM agrees that this thorny issue has to be addressed as soon as humanly possible. We however see the solution differently.

“The UDM is of the view that a national indaba should be convened where a blueprint can be drafted for us to achieve the goal of a united and prosperous South Africa.”

Political analyst Daniel Silke said the big political parties will have a difficult time competing in the elections with many new parties entering the arena.

“The ANC has to ward off the EFF, which has the sympathy of a portion of the ANC voters. The EFF are a major pressure point for the ANC,” said Silke.