Team DA is mobilising to govern Gauteng

The following statement was delivered today by DA Gauteng Provincial Leader, John Moodey, during the introduction of the newly elected DA Gauteng Regional Chairpersons.

Good morning fellow South Africans,

Thank you for taking the time to be here this morning to engage with myself and my colleagues seated around this table.

As you may know, our provincial congress will be taking place later this month and it’s all systems go to a robust, healthy and democratic event.

In the build-up to our provincial congress, the various regions around the province have held their AGMs over the past two weeks to democratically elect chairpersons whom they have deemed fit to steer these regions on an upward trajectory towards Election 2019.

Each one of the individuals seated with me has come through the ranks of the party and espouses the values of the DA and shares the vision that the DA has for a better Gauteng when we take office in 2019.

In order to achieve the goal of ushering in a new beginning for Gauteng’s residents, it is imperative that the voices of our people, from Hammanskraal to Evaton, Dunnotar to Randfontein are afforded the opportunity to be heard.

But beyond being heard, they deserve the best guidance and leadership that we as an organisation have to offer.

Seated before you ladies and gentleman are hardworking DA members who have been chosen by their peers in peaceful democratic manner, based on their competency and dedication to the DA cause.

With me today are:

· Cllr Selby Thekiso – Ekurhuleni Regional Chair;
· Dr Heinrich Volmink – Johannesburg Regional Chair;
· Cllr Able Tau – Tshwane Regional Chair; and
· Mayor Bongani Baloyi – Vaal Regional Chair.

In 2016, we dealt a major blow to the nefarious syndicate undermining our constitutional democracy.

The ANC fell below 50% in Gauteng.

They lost Johannesburg and Tshwane to an electorate crying out for real change, for competent governance and a sense of hope.

In Midvaal, we gained more ground from a constituency that has felt the real, positive effects of a DA government.

Even in the ANC heartland of Ekurhuleni, the party no longer has a stranglehold on power and grasps at slight coalition.

In the municipalities that we govern, real change is taking place.

It is now the responsibility of those elected into leadership positions to pick up the baton from their predecessors and continue the work the DA is renowned for and to take the parties offer to a broader audience.

As the Gauteng Provincial Leader, I put my faith in these chairpersons to take the party in their regions and collectively in the province toward victory in 2019.

We will face challenges, we will have many hurdles to clear – but I am certain that through each person here the DA promise of freedom, fairness and opportunity will preserve and reform a province that has been eroded through those who care only for themselves.