Provinces should be done away with, a budget that is pro-poor, land should be returned to its rightful owners and fixing of the health and education system are some of the ideas and policy positions in a mixed bag of political party manifestos presented at the Dispatch Dialogues on Wednesday night.
The highly charged debate into manifestos of political parties dubbed “The Battle of Manifestos” was held in partnership with Afesis-corplan and attracted hundreds of people who packed the Calgary Church in Quigney. The ANC provincial chair Oscar Mabuyane kicked off the debate reciting the party’s achievements over the years.
“Our fundamental goal remains that of building a non-racial non-sexist [society]. We are the only organisation that practises democracy.
A lot has been done. Our country is moving forward. Since the ANC took over there have been no electoral challenges. We have built more than 50,000 houses for our people. This government cares for our people. We have pushed back frontiers of poverty making sure that in each and every home there is something to eat by month end,” Mabuyane said.
The DA’s provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga called for people in government who were corrupt to be arrested and be imprisoned for a minimum of 15 years.
“The DA will make sure that the money of the people is used to deliver services. I have been to Mthatha. There is raw sewage running down the streets. Those officials who ask for sex-for-jobs and sex-for-houses should go to prison. Time for the ANC is up and the DA is here,” he said to loud applause from the party's supporters.
Giving the EFF's input, the party's national chair Dali Mpofu took a jab at the ANC saying that he did not want to come to the event because when he asked who he would be debating with, he was told “thieves”.
“The ANC is African National Criminals. We will never have progress in the country when the money is being siphoned away by Guptas and Bosasa. If anyone is still going to vote ANC then they believe in myths,” Mpofu said.
He also called for the abolishing of provinces saying they were a waste of money and resources.
“We need to get rid of provinces and have a strong central government. We will do away with MECs such as Mabuyane. Whatever you do come May 8 do not make the mistake of giving the ANC another five years; 25 years is enough. This is one of the provinces you still find kids learning under trees and using a bucket system.”
In a veiled reference to the EFF, PAC leader Sandla Goqwana said that his party was the only one that was serious about the land question.
“Many people have spoken about the land but they do not know what it means. When we talk about the land we are talking about what's underneath it, what is above it, what is in the sea and what is in the sky. All shall be returned,” he said.
He also called for the criteria of allocating budget money to be reviewed because right now it did not benefit the previously disadvantaged.
“Our policies do not favour our people. Each time the year starts, the population of the Eastern Cape moves to Gauteng and Western Cape to look for jobs and schooling because of budgeting. We need a budget that is biased towards the previously disadvantaged population,” he said...