Friends, colleagues, fellow Democrats,
It is a privilege to be with you today in Mbombela, and on Valentine’s Day!
It’s especially fitting that we’re gathered here on the day which celebrates the commitment of love, because it’s an opportunity to celebrate the love we have for this party, this province and the important role that both play in South Africa.
The kind of love that recognises the importance of this incredible province: the historic source of South Africa’s energy, and where many of our vast natural resources and heritage, are held.
Democrats, this has been an especially difficult start to the year for everyone in the Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga.
The untimely passing of our Provincial Director, Sarbhera Amod, just six weeks ago is still raw and painful for us all. Day in and out, Sarbie served with excellence, professionalism and humanity. She was a courageous leader with a brilliant operational mind. She is sorely missed today, as she will always be. My sincere condolences go to her family: Thelma, Sharlton and Dennis.
Democrats, the President mentioned the contribution of women to our democracy, during the State of the Nation Address on Thursday, I must emphasise that if we truly love this province, and our country, then we must confront one of a gravest moral crises facing us: the scourge of femicide. No society can call itself free while women live in fear. Combating violence against women and children must be a relentless national priority, enforced through effective, devolved policing in capable provinces, functioning courts, and communities that refuse to look away.
This province is also reeling from a state of disaster caused by massive flooding, the likes of which we haven’t seen for years here. It reminds us of the awesome power of nature, and the need to build climate resilient infrastructure to serve all the people here, and to protect the precious nature of this province.
The work which Sarbie, and all of our public representatives professional staff and activists in this province, have been doing is worth continuing, even when that fight is hard.
One of the great strengths of the Democratic Alliance is that we practise what we preach.
We hold elective congresses like this one, which are open, competitive, democratic, because we believe leadership must be earned.
And it is precisely because of this culture of accountability that we have achieved so much over the past six years.
As I said two weeks ago in Durban, when many people had written the DA’s political obituary, we chose a different path.
In 2019, the headlines read: “Death of the DA.” That was what we inherited, and what we all had to build from.
But together (through hard work, discipline, and belief) we did.
Today, we stand as a party in national government, actually changing the course of South Africa’s history, according to our values as a party.
And none of that would have been possible without voters (ordinary South Africans) choosing delivery over excuses.
Even the President has acknowledged it: where the DA governs, things work better.
If that still sounds abstract, look at the facts:
- South Africa is off the FATF grey list
The rand has stabilised
- Investment is returning
- IDs are being delivered through banks
- We have record matric results
- Connectivity is expanding
- Economic growth has grown, compared to the pre-GNU period
Though our economic gains are still green shoots, they are there and they must be nurtured because there is a lot more to be done.
But friends, Mpumalanga knows better than most that national progress means nothing if provinces and municipalities are broken.
Mpumalanga is a province of extraordinary importance to South Africa.
It is home to our energy heartland, our forestry sector, our coal and mineral resources, and precious water catchment areas, from which much of South Africa drinks.
Yet, for too long, this province has been held back by corruption, state capture, and governance collapse.
During the State of the Nation Address on Thursday night, the President acknowledged the progress being made through the Government of National Unity: stabilising the economy, restoring investor confidence, and driving reform in key departments, most of which are DA led.
I said after the speech, and I maintain, that most of the DA’s priorities, which have been relentlessly driving for years, were now highlighted It shows the good work that the DA is doing in national government and the significant influence we are making.
But where it fell short was on one critical issue: a clear, broad-based policy solution to lift millions of poor South Africans (especially black South Africans) out of poverty in a sustainable way.
For too long, empowerment policy in its current format has enriched a connected few, rather than expanding opportunity to the many. If we are serious about inclusive growth in provinces like Mpumalanga, we must move beyond narrow enrichment and focus on policies that create jobs, expand ownership widely, and unlock real economic participation for all. The DA has tabled a solution. It’s called the Economic inclusion for all bill, and we are fighting for it to succeed in Parliament.
The promise of a better South Africa, built on better choices, is within reach, here in Mpumalanga, and across the country. At a local level, the DA has shown that where it governs, it does so competently and efficiently.
Unlocking the potential of Provinces like Mpumalanga depends on getting municipalities working again.
That requires us offering the voters of this province a credible political alternative to the status quo, at local government level.
Delegates, I am proud to say this: the DA in Mpumalanga is ready to govern:
One Province for One Future!
It is great to see such confidence in the current leadership. I want to take this opportunity to thank your Leader and Chairperson for their commitment, dedication and courage. Leading is a calling, and I sense there are great things in store for this province. For those positions that are contested, I have every confidence that this delegation will select the best, strongest and most courageous members to take this province to new heights.
As you prepare to announce the outcome of this election, I want to wish the new office bearers every success.
I think that our leaders in the province, experienced as they are, know that strong, principled leadership at local level is the foundation of a DA that can govern, deliver, and win.
We know that the challenges faced in Mpumalanga, at local level, are much the same elsewhere in the country:
People want clean water in their taps.
They want electricity that stays on.
They want roads that connect them to jobs and markets.
They want safety and corruption free administration.
And, most importantly, they want a municipality that simply gets the basics right, to attract investment and growth for job creation.
All around this province, communities are frustrated by collapsing infrastructure, financial mismanagement, and leadership that has lost touch with the people it is meant to serve.
Let me be clear:
A working municipality is not a luxury.
It is not an unreasonable expectation.
It is the bare minimum of democratic government.
And this is where the DA is different.
We know that where the DA governs, municipalities work for all.
We deliver water that flows in taps, sanitation that works, roads that last, protection officers in communities, the lowest unemployment rate in South Africa (where the DA governs in the Western Cape) and administrations that are professional, accountable and transparent.
In Midvaal, clean audits and competent management have delivered stability and growth.
In uMngeni, — which was elected by only 7 votes — DA leadership has restored trust and investment.
In Kouga, communities chose change — and they are seeing the results.
These successes are not accidents.
They are the product of merit over cadre deployment, transparency over corruption, and planning over chaos.
But, as uMngeni’s win shows, these victories will very often be fiercely competitive and hard won.
In the face of this challenge, we must ready ourselves for a fight, knowing that ours is a good story to tell, and if we fight for each and every vote, we will prevail.
So, let me say this clearly: you are not alone.
The DA is in national government, fighting every day to clean up institutions, restore accountability, and support municipalities that want to work.
But real change begins here, with you.
So let us be clear about our mission.
In Mpumalanga, our goal is to ensure we have a DA mayor in at least 1 (but hopefully more) municipality after the Local Government Elections. We need the people of Mpumalanga to be able to see and experience the DA difference right here!
We also need to ensure that we bring the ANC below 50% in as many municipalities as possible, whilst at the same time extending DA support throughout the province. This can open the door to coalition government opportunities, so that we can begin to have more influence on good governance.
We must not be distracted in this mission – especially by small parties that divide the electorate and enable instability. That is not how you build a province, and every opportunity we get, we must explain – clearly and kindly – the danger that small parties hold.
This election is not about anything else but service delivery. Voters need to ask one simple question: Does the party I’m considering giving my vote to, have a credible track record in delivering water to taps, keeping the lights on, fixing the roads, and clearing the refuse?
The DA has proved that it is the only party that does those things consistently.
So, this year’s local government election will be won by reinforcing that message. It is a message of trust. It is a message that commits to getting South Africa’s municipalities working for all.
And on this Valentine’s Day, let me say this:
If you love Mpumalanga —
if you love your communities —
if you love South Africa —
then there is no more significant expression of devotion than in building a government that works.
So be heartened.
You are building something bigger than an election result.
You are building the foundations of South Africa’s future:
from Emalahleni to Middelburg,
from Mbombela to White River,
from Secunda to Bethal,
from Ermelo to Carolina,
from Komatipoort to Bushbuckridge.
Let us leave this Congress united, focused, and determined: ready to show, once again, that only the DA delivers, and that the DA is the party to get municipalities working for all.
Thank you.