Several hundred DA supporters from as far afield as Hermanus, Calitzdorp, Zoar, Prince Albert and Plettenberg Bay congregated in Hartenbos for the biggest DA election rally in the party's Eastern Region prior to the national and provincial elections on May 7.
Despite party leader Helen Zille not attending as planned, the enthusiasm of supporters old and young was not dampened. The crowd danced and sang DA songs, with cheerleaders Niklaas Booysen, a Mossel Bay Councillor, and Daniel Maritz, the DA deputy leader of the Eastern Region, spurring them on.
Ms Zille had to visit Gauteng at short notice to spearhead the DA's objection to the SABC's decision not to broadcast a DA television advertisement.
DA Chairperson of the Eastern Region Christel Vosloo told the crowd that 200 000 votes from this region is needed in the coming elections. In the last election, this region accounted for 180 000 DA votes.
"With three more weeks to the national election, hard work, dedication and team work is imperative," she said.
ANC in trouble
"It is time for good people to stand together on principles and values, and march forward. Don't settle for victory, go for the kill," the deputy Western Cape DA leader, Mr Theuns Botha, urged supporters. He added, "The ANC is destroying the country; call on your people to march up on 7 May; let's give the country hope!"
"The battle is up north, hope comes from the south. We are aiming for 65% of the vote in the Western Cape."
Dr Wilmot James
Federal Chairperson of the DA, Dr Wilmot James, thanked the supporters for their loyalty and for being such hard workers.
"We can extend the DA's majority in the Western Cape if everyone works really hard; we can take 50% of the vote in Gauteng and give the ANC a run for their money in the Northern Cape.
"The DA is the only political party that has consistently grown its membership since 1994. From 14% in 2004, to 16% in 2009, a 20% national support in this election is a realistic expectation," Dr Wilmot said.
He added that the SABC has reverted to being 'His Master's Voice' and described the SABC's decision not to broadcast DA advertisements as scandalous and fundamentally wrong. The DA has raised its concerns about a number of questionable SABC decisions, which seem to be politically motivated, to censor opposition parties in favour of the ANC.
"The DA is fighting the SABC's removal of our 'Ayisafani' television commercial, as well as our radio adverts from the airwaves," he added.
Nkandla
He raised his concern about the parliamentary ad hoc committee of inquiry into the improvements to Nkandla, saying he was sure the ANC in Parliament would take the full 10 days it was allowed to nominate its members to the ad hoc committee. This, he said would leave the committee with only two days to finish its work, given the April 30 deadline and the number of holidays in between.
'Twak is nat'
The Western Cape DA leader, Dr Ivan Meyer, told an appreciative crowd that President Zuma 'se twak is nat!'.
He explained that President Zuma's office proclaimed the Western Cape as the best run province in the country, after the results of a study indicated the province was first in good governance, strategic leadership, financial management and human resources.
"According to reports by StatsSA, based on the Census in 2011, the Western Cape is number one in service delivery of refuse removal, sanitation and electrification. The Western Cape's Success Story is well-documented," he added.
"In the ANC's last year in office in the Western Cape, not one of the government's 13 departments received a clean audit. In contrast, in the first year in office, seven departments achieved clean audits."
Dr Meyer also alluded to several successes by DA governed local governments in this region.
With the Curro Private School's marimba band and performances by the rappers of Dee Productionz, Yebo Yes and the Guiding Stars brass band adding to the excitement, the many people enthusiastically enjoyed the day's programme.
PHOTO GALLERY
Executive Mayor of Bitou, Councillor Memory Booysen with the rappers Dee and Small of Dee Productionz.
Photos: Nickey le Roux
ARTICLE: NICKEY LE ROUX, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER JOURNALIST
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