'Politicians have come and gone without any changes' - Soweto responds to DA campaign visit

Fresh from the conclusion of the DA Federal Congress, the party’s newly elected leadership descended on the streets of Soweto on Monday to engage directly with residents ahead of the critical November elections.

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, joined by Federal Council Chairperson Solly Msimanga and Joburg Mayoral candidate, Helen Zille, conducted a door-to-door campaign to gauge the community's pulse and outline the party’s vision for local government.

During the campaign, Hill-Lewis noted a strong desire for a shift in the city's management. According to the DA leader, many residents were proactive in expressing their support for the party and Helen Zille specifically.

"Some of the residents have been absolutely resolute and they are definitely voting for Helen and they’re voting for the DA," Hill-Lewis stated. "They immediately volunteered that information, that they really want change in the city".

A primary concern raised by Soweto locals involved the future of the local economy. Business owners in the community sought clarity on how a DA-led city government would foster a supportive environment for small enterprises.

One resident was Qondi Bacela, who also owns a shisanyama in the area. She told them about challenges associated with running a business and the environment required for it to thrive.

Hill-Lewis emphasised that the party's strategy for economic growth begins with getting the fundamentals right:

• Reliable Services: Ensuring basic infrastructure and city functions work correctly.
• Economic Upliftment: Using a functional city as a foundation to uplift the entire local economy.
• Investment Attraction: Creating an environment where people feel confident to invest, leading to overall improvement.

"When a city works, when the basics work, when things function, actually small businesses benefit from that because the whole economy is uplifted," Hill-Lewis explained.

The visit to Soweto serves as a strategic launchpad for the DA’s "ground-up" approach following their national congress. The party is aiming for a decisive result in Johannesburg to avoid the complexities of coalition governance.

"That’s what we need. We need many, many more people so that we can get, if at all possible, an outright majority in Johannesburg," said Hill-Lewis.

After the discussions, Bacela said that she does not know what to make of the discussions because in the past, politicians have come and gone without any changes.

“I don’t know if they were saying this just for the votes. We will have to wait and see,” she said.

Hill-Lewis concluded by framing the current campaign as an invitation to all South Africans to test the DA’s governance capabilities.

"We are opening our arms to many more people... to say, 'if you are positive about the DA, if you know that the DA is going to do well in government, come and give us a chance. We will not let you down',” he said.

karabo.ngoepe@inl.co.za