‘ANC cannot be trusted to fix what it has broken’ – DA

CAPE TOWN – The Democratic Alliance has slammed the ANC’s manifesto as “implausible”.

The party says the ANC cannot be trusted to fix what it has broken.

The ANC launched its manifesto at the weekend ahead of the 4 November Local Government Elections, promising to turn around municipalities.

But the DA says the manifesto asks South Africans to believe that the same party that has presided over the collapse of municipalities across the country will suddenly fix them again.

“These promises are implausible and lack all integrity,” DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said in a statement.

“South Africans deserve a different future with local governments that work, and ultimately a DA-led national government that brings the same culture of accountability, competence and service to the whole country,” Hill-Lewis added.

While admitting his party’s failures over the years, ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa promised South Africans that they will do better.

“There are municipalities, we must admit, that are in financial trouble. There are municipalities that have been weakened by poor leadership, political instability, corruption and the appointment of people who do not have the skills required for the work that they must perform.

“Now, as the ANC, we comrades accept responsibility both for the progress that has been made, but we also accept responsibility for the failures and shortcomings where we govern,” Ramaphosa said.

He added that if citizens vote for the party, work will begin immediately after election day.

But the DA maintains the ANC will not perform miracles in 100 days and fill every critical municipal vacancy within 120 days.