Johannesburg - Voters have the power to fire government when they are not happy with the level of service delivery they are getting, DA leader Helen Zille said on Saturday.
“Remember that in a democracy, the government is supposed to work for you,” she told thousands of supporters at a rally at the Coca Cola Dome in Johannesburg.
“You hire it. And you can fire it. And we know how its done: You hire with your vote and you fire with your vote.”
She said if government was doing its work properly, South Africa would attract more investments and the economy would grow faster to create jobs.
When a government became corrupt the economy declined, unemployment grew, poverty deepened and the powerful few got richer, she added.
“That is the sad story of our own country over the last five years. It dies not have to be this way,” said Zille.
She said under President Jacob Zuma, the African National Congress had changed. Its leaders believed they would rule forever and so they had forgotten about the voters who put them in power.
Zille said the ANC had become arrogant because it believed that the voters would carry on voting for them, no matter what they do.
“Well, they are in for a big shock on Wednesday. Bazokothuka. Hulle gaan groot skrik. Because everywhere we have been in South Africa the people have told us the same thing. iANC Ayisafani,” she said.
Zille called on South Africans to send the ANC a clear message on May 7.
She told the thousands at the rally that her party was the one that could bring about change.
She reminded people that where the DA governed, unemployment was at its lowest.
“If you remember one thing when you go to vote... Unemployment is lowest where DA governs. In the past five years, we created more jobs than any other provinces, and we have cut corruption,” she said.
Zille said since the party gained control of the Western Cape, unemployment was 12 percent lower than the national average and the matric pass rate had increased from 57 to 73 percent in the province.
“Seventy six percent of the Western Cape's budget is spent on service delivery in poor communities.”
She added that well over 99 percent of households in the province had access to piped water, electricity and flushing toilets.
“And people are beginning to recognise this. That is why the biggest association of shack dwellers in SA, Abahlali Basemjondolo, has endorsed the DA in this election. They know they get much better service where the DA governs,” said Zille.
She said the upcoming election came down to two basic questions.
“Is SA a better place than it was five years ago? Is your life better than it was in 2009? For the majority of South Africans, the answer to both questions is no,” she said.
Zille called on voters to stand with the party and see what it could do in the next five years. - Sapa