Durban - The days under an ANC-run city hall are over, says the DA’s Durban mayoral candidate, Haniff Hoosen, who on Thursday pinned up “notices to vacate” at the city’s political seat of power.
At the parties’ final election blitz before the local government elections on Wednesday, the party took to the city hall and painted the walkways blue with song and dance and chants of “Viva DA”.
For party supporters who came from the many corners in and around Durban, they came sporting a message of “Hoosen for mayor”.
Hoosen said the ANC should pack up shop because he was taking over post-August 3.
“We are giving notice to the ANC today, we are saying millions of South Africans are getting behind the DA’s message for change and our notice to vacate is because we know that on August 3 voters will get behind us and kick the ANC out of power, so this notice is to say pack your bags and boxes and get ready to leave,” he said.
“We are being absolutely realistic because this is the trend across South Africa, you put on your television and read newspapers, people are tired of the promises and lies. It is not impossible, the power is in the hands of the voters, what we are getting on the field is that people are saying they have had enough,” he said.
“Our swing are the voters, every community, black, white, Indian, coloured, we have been approaching and talking to every single voter out there - we are asking them to get behind the DA - so that is only one swing, and those are the voters on August 3,” he said.
The DA would make the most of every coin to increase the chances for work, solve the housing backlog, reduce corruption and restore the dignity of people, Hoosen said.
“There is no way you are going to bring about change in your future, change for your family, if you are not going to get involved on August 3 and get behind the DA’s message of change,” he said.
Athabile Golimbiza, 18, a first-time voter and party supporter, lives in an informal settlement in Inanda. He said the DA could lead the change.
“Since 1994, our parents have voted for the ANC, but there is no change. There is a domination of informal settlements, the DA can remove that and make the domination of formal settlements and create jobs,” he said.
He is unemployed and wants to study next year and says: “I want the DA to change my living, when I am going to university I want the DA to help me find a bursary,” he said.
He said in his area the roads were riddled with potholes and dangerous electricity connections.
The DA’s youngest ward candidate in eThekwini, Nomfundo Khubone, 22 promised to set up a housing list for people at two informal settlements in her ward.
“The most pressing issue for them is housing, so it is about getting a housing list that is transparent so everyone can know where they are and bettering service delivery to make sure there are roads and electricity for those residents,” she said.
Daily News