Democratic Alliance

Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Dr Dion George MP.

Yesterday President Ramaphosa signed the South African Postbank Limited Amendment Bill into law.

This Act will allow for the establishment of a new holding entity for the Postbank and was designed to facilitate the Postbank’s registration as a Bank Controlling Company which will enable it to operate as a separate full-service bank.

The bank previously formed part of the South African Post Office (SAPO) structures and was one of its sources of income. By removing the bank from its structures, SAPO will become even less financially viable than it already was, to the detriment of the thousands of employees who have faced retrenchment and an uncertain future. And government simply doesn’t care.

The ANC justifies the establishment of the bank by claiming that it will more effectively facilitate access to financial services for small businesses and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs. The party contends that the state bank would serve as a viable and affordable alternative to commercial banking institutions. No evidence was provided to support these claims and there is little doubt that it will merely serve as yet another mechanism to siphon taxpayer funds from the National Treasury into the pockets of its patronage networks.

At a time when government has run out of money and South African households are battling to put enough food on their tables in the midst of a government-induced cost of living crisis, government has chosen to add yet another drain. This is not sustainable and that is why a feasibility study was not conducted and the input of the Standing Committee on Finance only requested at the insistence of the DA. Government has run out of money and is scrambling to avert an inevitable debt servicing crisis by cutting at the periphery of its current overspending and avoiding the inevitable culling of hopelessly bankrupt state owned enterprises; adding another one and calling it a bank won’t miraculously make more money appear.

By signing this Bill, the President has paved the way for a deepening crisis of poor fiscal management.

Rather than wasting political capital by advocating for a state bank, efforts should have been channelled into creating bankable business opportunities, both within the public and private sectors.

If the Government were genuinely committed to supporting underprivileged entrepreneurial hopefuls, it would have focused on nurturing a stable and conducive policy environment for small businesses and up-and-coming entrepreneurs. This could have been achieved by simplifying bureaucratic processes, enhancing service delivery, and implementing the much-vaunted government infrastructure spending plans.

What we need are not new institutions, but focused, evidence-driven interventions to address our deteriorating social and economic situation.

The DA does not support the establishment of this new bank or any appropriations to fund it.

Note to editors: Please find attached letter to Minister Didiza as well as soundbite and video by Noko Masipa MP. 

Minister Didiza needs to act urgently as poultry farmers suffer due to a severe avian flu outbreak.

The DA has urged her to assist farmers by procuring vaccines, registering them, and providing financial support to rebuild their businesses.

Reports suggest that millions of birds have already died, causing significant industry losses. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development’s slow response is concerning, as it threatens food security and raises chicken prices, impacting vulnerable families. Namibia has even suspended chicken imports from South Africa due to the outbreak.

To address this crisis, the DA recommends:

1. Providing financial support to affected farmers.
2. Reporting the exact number of bird deaths and the monetary losses incurred.
3. Sourcing, testing, registering, and supplying poultry vaccines within 30-90 days.
4. Establishing emergency funding packages between the government and the private sector.

Minister Thoko Didiza must remove some of the restrictive red tape on vaccine registration to ensure speedy procurement of effective vaccines. Concurrent to the procurement of vaccines, an extensive monitoring system must be put in place to quarantine severely affected areas to prevent the further spreading of the disease.

It is crucial that this avian flu outbreak is contained as quickly as possible to save the local poultry industry, preserve jobs and ensure the continued supply of affordable chicken to consumers. The DA will fight to ensure poultry farmers are assisted as soon as possible to avert possible collapse of the industry.

Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Michele Clarke MP.

The DA takes note of the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla’s media briefing yesterday and the dark picture he painted of the Department of Health’s finances.

Between the R8 billion needed to cover the 7.5% salary increases, infrastructure grants that need to be redistributed to address loadshedding and water shortages, the many staff shortages, and the billions needed – which the country does not have, as recently confirmed again by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana – to implement the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill.

Furthermore, the National Department of Health (NDoH) is failing to meet its targets regarding the reduction of medico-legal claims. In a briefing to the Select Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday, the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) told Parliament that of the four service providers appointed by NDoH to address the issue, only two had performed work regarding medico-legal claims at a cost of R93.8 million as of 31 March 2022.

Despite some successful negotiations for lesser settlements on the medico-legal claims, in 2022, the Department still had to pay more than R855 million towards more than 14 500 medico-legal claims. AGSA further pointed out that although the amount paid out had decreased compared to the number of claims lodged, additional funds still had to be requested from Treasury in certain instances and the “reduction of payment is not an indication of a sustainable reduction as it was mainly due to a timing difference between the time the claim is received, and the time the claim is actually paid”.

AGSA also highlighted that medico-legal claims were exacerbated by lack of staff with relevant expertise, and the fact that the electronic case management system (CMS) that was meant to be implemented in eight provinces by March 2020 has only been implemented in four and was only being used one. According to the Department of Health, the contract for the CMS has come to an end and they are in the process of engaging with previous service providers to ensure that its internal information communication technology (ICT) systems are able to run the CMS. This eventuality should have been anticipated and sorted long before the contract came to an end.

DoH also stated that there was a total of 1 043 cases in the 2022/23 financial year with claims which cost government more than R1.4 billion, and 1 415 cases in 2021/22 on which R1.2 billion was spent.

It is clear that Minister Phaahla failed to address the serious issues concerning the public health sector during his time in office. Instead of systematically addressing infrastructure failures, staff shortages, medicine stockouts, and corruption, he has put all his efforts into an NHI pipe dream that will bankrupt the country and cripple public health care in South Africa.

Please find attached a soundbite by Emma Louise Powell MP.

The 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held in Johannesburg this week has been marred by rank ANC incompetence, calling into question South Africa’s credibility as a reliable partner within the expanding bloc.

The ANC’s complete disregard for professionalism, time-keeping, and organisation, combined with underwhelming representation from several key member countries has rendered the Forum little more than an anti-Western propaganda talk-shop.

Whilst more than 45 Members of the South African Parliament were required to attend the Forum, Russia was represented by a single delegate, Vice-Speaker of the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev. Kosachev, who is sanctioned by numerous countries throughout the world, failed to arrive aboard his scheduled flight on Tuesday 26th, belatedly opting to address the Forum via video link from the safety of his Kremlin boardroom. Kosachev’s failure to attend the Forum is a stark reminder of the diplomatic isolation that Russia continues to navigate as a result of their illegal invasion of Ukraine.

The Speaker of Iran’s National Consultative Assembly, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf (and his male-only delegation) departed the Forum shortly after delivering a vitriolic diatribe against the West as part of his opening remarks. Qalibaf called on BRICS to counter NATO expansionism and usher in a return to “moral principles and spiritualism”. Qalibaf’s controversial past as Iran’s Chief of Police and Commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ Air Force was marked by high-profile corruption scandals, and raises questions about the suitability of such partners to democratic South Africa.

Notably, refusals by big business to provide sponsorships to the Forum underscores growing concerns within the business community about the ANC’s association with Russian warlords and theocratic dictators. Out of the 13 companies approached for sponsorship, 12 either declined or failed to respond to requests, with significant players such as Volkswagen, Telkom, and Nedbank amongst them. This signals an emerging trend by corporates to distance themselves from South Africa’s BRICS association.

The extravagant gala dinner, intended to be a showcase of unity and camaraderie, experienced severe delays with India and Iran failing to attend, and only a handful of Chinese representatives showing face later on in the evening. The absence of Saudi Arabia and Brazil’s limited delegation further exacerbated the notable disinterest in this shambolic event by member states.

Crucially, members of the South African Parliamentary delegation were not provided with any opportunity to make representations towards commitments contained in a Memorandum of Understanding that will be signed by respective Parliaments upon conclusion. This is an ANC memorandum, it is not a representative Parliamentary Memorandum.

While the BRICS Parliamentary Forum has sought to project an image to the media of a united and ascendent new bloc on the international stage, the situation on the ground has been jarringly different. The truth is that despite lofty rhetoric, if participation is a measure of success, BRICS is by all accounts on life support.

The DA will be submitting urgent questions to Parliament requesting a full breakdown of delegates and costs which will be released to the public in coming days.

Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Dr Leon Schreiber MP.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) can today reveal that the African National Congress (ANC) is in contempt of a Court order issued by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) that compelled the ANC to make public its cadre deployment records. In response to the ANC’s defiance of this court ruling, the DA is approaching the court for an order of contempt and will seek the committal to prison of ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula. Since the ANC’s doomed appeal at the SCA was filed under Mbalula’s name, he has made himself guilty of the same contempt of court offence that led to the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma.

The DA will consequently launch a court application to send Mbalula to prison using the very precedent established in the Zuma case. It is time that the ANC learns that there are consequences for undermining justice in South Africa.

On 4 September, the SCA rejected, with costs, an attempt by Mbalula to appeal an earlier ruling from the Johannesburg High Court that the ANC must hand over its cadre deployment records to the DA. The SCA ruling reinstated the deadline imposed by the High Court, which gave the ANC five working days to hand over all cadre deployment records dating back to 1 January 2013 – when President Cyril Ramaphosa became chairman of the deployment committee.

The deadline for handing over the cadre deployment records to the DA was 8 September.

On 7 September, the DA received a letter from the ANC’s lawyers, indicating that the party intended to run to the Constitutional Court in a panicked last-ditch appeal bid. The DA subsequently wrote to the ANC’s lawyers, giving them until 12:00 on 20 September to file their papers if the party intended to proceed with the appeal. The ANC failed to meet this deadline.

Yesterday, the DA again wrote to the ANC’s lawyers, indicating that the 15-day court deadline for filing an appeal lapsed the day before, on 26 September. This means that the ANC is now in contempt of the SCA ruling. The DA made it clear that, if the ANC failed to hand over its cadre deployment records by 12:00 on 28 September 2023, we would approach the court for urgent contempt of court relief. We further undertook to place all our correspondence with the ANC before the court, to demonstrate the ANC’s reckless disregard of a court order, knowing full well the obligation it had to comply with the SCA order in the absence of an appeal to the Constitutional Court.

It is clear that the ANC has realised that any appeal to the Constitutional Court is doomed to fail. But the DA will not allow the ANC to get away with this latest attempt at using Stalingrad tactics to undermine the cause of justice. The people of South Africa have an inalienable right of access to the information contained in the ANC’s cadre deployment records, because these documents demonstrate how the party illegally interfered in public appointment processes to deploy the cadres who captured and corrupted the state under the chairmanship of Ramaphosa.

In the next phase of our quest to expose and abolish the ANC cadre deployment corruption that has destroyed service delivery, the DA will send Fikile Mbalula to prison for undermining the right of South Africans to access the vital information contained in the ANC’s cadre deployment records.

Today, ActionSA has stabbed Tshwane Executive Mayor Cilliers Brink in the back and have pulled the rug from under coalition’s feet.

Without consulting the Multi-Party coalition, ActionSA submitted an urgent motion to the Speaker of Council that seeks to compel the Executive Mayor to negotiate with striking workers as well as for the Mayor to consider what it calls the legitimate demands put forward by labour unions. These demands include adding R600 million to the wage bill, paying striking workers who have disrupted services for residents, and reinstating workers who have engaged in assaults and intimidation against Tshwane employees.

The foundation of ActionSA’s motion lacks substance. The City of Tshwane has made numerous efforts to engage with the unions involved in the ongoing strikes, and ActionSA, having 2 MMC positions, are aware of these engagements. Between July 27th and August 8th, the City of Tshwane held five meetings with union leadership and engaged with the CCMA on August 3rd. ActionSA seems to be playing opposition politics while in government, clearly attempting to score political points.

Furthermore, as the unions have distanced themselves from the strikes in Tshwane, ActionSA’s motion essentially calls on the mayor to engage with the criminal elements who have held this city hostage through violence and destruction.

Over the past nine weeks, the multi-party coalition has been locked in a battle for the financial future of Tshwane. This struggle has witnessed the destruction of municipal infrastructure, assaults on municipal employees, and even the shooting of a municipal worker. Supporting this motion would essentially condone violence, destruction, and intimidation.

ActionSA’s motion displays a lack of foresight. Granting wage increases in Tshwane would inevitably come at the expense of resources designated for essential services to residents. If this motion were to be accepted, creating the illusion of ending the strike in the name of resuming service delivery in Tshwane, it will lead to a long-term decline in the quality of services provided to Tshwane residents.

The DA and VF have initiated a dispute against ASA, which, in accordance with the Coalition Agreement, compels them to withdraw the item and have it discussed at the CMC. If consensus cannot be reached, the DA is ready to escalate the dispute with ASA for discussion at COG amongst Party’s National Leaders.

Under no circumstances will the DA endorse a motion that could result in the financial ruin of the City of Tshwane. Nor will the DA support a motion that harms the residents of Tshwane to appease those responsible for the destruction of municipal infrastructure, assaults on, and shootings of municipal employees.

The DA is a party guided by principles. If ActionSA chooses to engage in politics that undermine the coalition and potentially return the city to the ANC, the DA Caucus will persist in fighting for residents from the opposition benches.

The 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held in Johannesburg this week has been marred by rank ANC incompetence, calling into question South Africa’s credibility as a reliable partner within the expanding bloc.

The ANC’s complete disregard for professionalism, time-keeping, and organisation, combined with underwhelming representation from several key member countries has rendered the Forum little more than an anti-Western propaganda talk-shop.

Whilst more than 45 Members of the South African Parliament were required to attend the Forum, Russia was represented by a single delegate, Vice-Speaker of the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev. Kosachev, who is sanctioned by numerous countries throughout the world, failed to arrive aboard his scheduled flight on Tuesday 26th, belatedly opting to address the Forum via video link from the safety of his Kremlin boardroom. Kosachev’s failure to attend the Forum is a stark reminder of the diplomatic isolation that Russia continues to navigate as a result of their illegal invasion of Ukraine.

The Speaker of Iran’s National Consultative Assembly, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf (and his male-only delegation) departed the Forum shortly after delivering a vitriolic diatribe against the West as part of his opening remarks. Qalibaf called on BRICS to counter NATO expansionism and usher in a return to “moral principles and spiritualism”. Qalibaf’s controversial past as Iran’s Chief of Police and Commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ Air Force was marked by high-profile corruption scandals, and raises questions about the suitability of such partners to democratic South Africa.

Notably, refusals by big business to provide sponsorships to the Forum underscores growing concerns within the business community about the ANC’s association with Russian warlords and theocratic dictators. Out of the 13 companies approached for sponsorship, 12 either declined or failed to respond to requests, with significant players such as Volkswagen, Telkom, and Nedbank amongst them. This signals an emerging trend by corporates to distance themselves from South Africa’s BRICS association.

The extravagant gala dinner, intended to be a showcase of unity and camaraderie, experienced severe delays with India and Iran failing to attend, and only a handful of Chinese representatives showing face later on in the evening. The absence of Saudi Arabia and Brazil’s limited delegation further exacerbated the notable disinterest in this shambolic event by member states.

Crucially, members of the South African Parliamentary delegation were not provided with any opportunity to make representations towards commitments contained in a Memorandum of Understanding that will be signed by respective Parliaments upon conclusion. This is an ANC memorandum, it is not a representative Parliamentary Memorandum.

While the BRICS Parliamentary Forum has sought to project an image to the media of a united and ascendent new bloc on the international stage, the situation on the ground has been jarringly different. The truth is that despite lofty rhetoric, if participation is a measure of success, BRICS is by all accounts on life support.

The DA will be submitting urgent questions to Parliament requesting a full breakdown of delegates and costs which will be released to the public in coming days.

The DA has taken note of Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s recent remarks during his closing address at the Aspirant Women Judges program. Chief Justice Zondo’s experiences with the State Attorney’s office and the challenges he faced in defending his work are deeply concerning. It underscores the importance of a robust and independent legal system that is capable of upholding justice and the rule of law.

The Chief Justice’s call for self-reliance in pursuing justice is a valuable reminder that we should not solely depend on government institutions to ensure accountability and transparency. It is imperative that individuals and organisations take proactive steps to protect the integrity of our legal system.

The reported difficulties faced by Chief Justice Zondo in obtaining assistance from the State Attorney’s office raise important questions about its effectiveness and resource allocation. This, in turn, raises concerns about the possibility of capture or corruption within certain government institutions, including the Office of the State Attorney.

It is essential for us as a society to investigate and address any signs of corruption or capture within our institutions to uphold the principles of democracy and justice. The impartiality and integrity of our legal system must be preserved at all costs.

We commend the patriotic lawyers from the private sector who stepped forward to assist Chief Justice Zondo in his defense. Their dedication to justice is commendable and serves as a shining example of the power of civil society to safeguard our democratic values.

The DA calls on Justice Minister Ronald Lamola to ensure better resources and funding to ensure that efforts over 3 years and R1 billion it took to uncover state capture not be in vain, and urges all citizens to actively participate in safeguarding our democracy and legal system.

As the upcoming elections approach, it is crucial for citizens to exercise their right to vote and choose leaders who are committed to addressing the findings of the State Capture Commission and ensuring swift arrests and prosecutions where necessary. The state of the State Attorney’s office and the challenges faced by Chief Justice Zondo should serve as important considerations for voters.

The importance of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in our democracy cannot be over-emphasised. We must remain vigilant in upholding these principles and work collectively to strengthen our institutions and protect the integrity of our legal system.

DASO notes with great disappointment and disdain the racist and violent actions of the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) at the University of Pretoria.

In light of the rightful disqualification of their SRC candidates, the EFFSC illegally protested around the Hatfield campus of the University of Pretoria alongside the EFF.

While protesting, actions of violence, racism, and vandalism took place. Refuse was publicly incinerated while Herold Street and Duxbury Road were forcibly closed by the EFF and EFFSC using bricks.

Most appallingly, the EFF’s Regional Chairperson, Obakeng Ramabodu, told students that “only black students” can enter the campus. There is also video evidence of students being harassed and threatened on the basis of their skin colour.

DASO calls for urgent action by law enforcement authorities. We will also report any instances of racism and race related violence to the SAHRC and the University Management.

Please find attached a soundbite by Dr Dion George MP.

Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, the US Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on South Africa. The hearing aimed at “Examining the Current US – South Africa Bilateral Relationship”. This comes at a crucial time, with the AGOA Forum heading to South Africa from 2-4 November 2023. The Forum will discuss the future trade relationship between the US, South Africa and the Region.

Chairman of the Committee, Congressman John James did not mince his words. In his opening statement, he stated that “it is clear that the African National Congress of today is no longer the party of Nelson Mandela. While the South African story is one of hope, reconciliation and determination, the ANC story is motivated by perpetuating a system of elite capture, built on corruption and increasing government dependence through the National Democratic Revolution …”. He went on to mention the ANCs disastrous “empowerment” and “land reform” policies that have resulted in more South Africans becoming dependent on the state in an economy that isn’t growing.

This is not news to South African households battling to put enough food on their tables in the grip of a devastating government-induced cost of living crisis. Government has run out of money and is now desperately scrambling to cut its spending in an attempt to avert a fiscal disaster where it defaults on its huge and growing debt service costs, now the largest single item on the national balance sheet, already crowding out basic service delivery to the most vulnerable South Africans. Amidst this growing fiscal crisis, the ANC government is considering an increase in VAT in the region of 2%. Given that VAT is a regressive tax, this will hurt the poorest South African households the most.

This is news because the ANC is being exposed by its leading trading partner for exactly what it is: a failed, incapable and untrustworthy government. Under these conditions, negotiating a trade agreement has become far more complicated than it was already. The DA has written to US Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, requesting that the DA present our vision for a future bi-lateral trade relationship in a post-ANC South Africa.

On our recent visit to Washington DC, the DA reiterated the fact that the ANC is not South Africa. It is a corrupted political party that has brought SA to its knees. The only way forward for SA is a change of government at Election 2024. The DA will put everything it has into achieving that outcome next year.