Note not only what is said, but what is omitted

IN “A Coalition of Corruption Rules Jozi” (February 8), DA MP and shadow minister Manny fe Freitas says that the Patriotic Alliance (PA) did not say anything about service delivery and also claims that ActionSA has “concluded its national strategy with the objective of becoming the official opposition to destroy the DA” – and asks readers to verify this on Google.

We are entitled to our views and it is when there are diverse views that we can engage and learn. It is one of the reasons that newspapers dedicate a section for diverse readers to write to. However, we have to pay attention not only to what readers say but also to what they omit to say.

First of all, Google is not a credible source of information. It is not surprising to find people who spend several minutes on Google and suddenly think that they are experts, but it is a different story to get a diploma and a degree, get employed at the City of Joburg and have an eye-witness account.

It was Julius Malema who said he would form a coalition with the DA only if Herman Mashaba was appointed as the mayor and throughout that, the EFF worked well with Mashaba.

His highest approval and rating came from EFF supporters. In fact, in informal settlements where Mashaba held campaigns, such as the launch of a bridge in Diepsloot in 2019, there would be elders and youth sporting red berets fighting to get his attention.

It was unexpected that the most challenges during his term would come from his own party members, who were against such service delivery since their constituency is based in middle-to-upper-class suburbs. So if ActionSA has made it a strategy to be an official opposition, it is because they know the DA and understand its policies.

And the DA has the tendency to only focus on other parties, instead of talking about its own plans. The PA may have not disclosed its service delivery plans in the multiparty negotiations – but what has the DA done for the poor?

What will they do for the poor people in informal settlements? By surrendering two positions and sacrificing Dr Mpho Phalatse for what they claim is “a coalition of corruption” to rule the residents, then they have betrayed the residents of Joburg.

ISRAEL TSHETLHANE | Krugersdorp