The Patriotic Alliance (PA) endeavours to gain ground in the Western Cape, its leader, Gayton McKenzie, remarked that the Democratic Alliance (DA) was unsettled by its strategies.
Mckenzie says DA is spooked by its plans
McKenzie has criticised the DA, which holds governance in the Western Cape, for neglecting to tackle service delivery challenges in underprivileged communities.
The Patriotic Alliance is determined to unseat the DA in the province when the nation votes on 29 May, promising to exert every effort towards this goal.
According to Eyewitness News, McKenzie is anticipated to serve as the party’s candidate for premier of the Western Cape.
Addressing thousands of supporters at the party’s rally at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday, McKenzie accused the DA of engaging in racial politics.
“So why do you worry about the man who hasn’t been governing while you have been governing. Let me tell you why you are worried. Because you are only serving white people in the Western Cape. You are government for white people and white people alone.”
McKenzie has challenged the DA on its claims of good governance.
“The PA is going to give the Western Cape to the ANC. Now before I answer that, the DA says they have done a good job. The DA says they are the best-run municipality. Now my question is, if you are doing such a good job, why are you worried?”
Gayton McKenzie and Patriotic Alliance gear up as ‘Government-in-Waiting
During the party’s ‘Victory Rally’ on Saturday, Patriotic Alliance (PA) president Gayton McKenzie electrified the crowd at Athlone Stadium with his speech, garnering overwhelming support.
McKenzie is positioned as both the presidential and Western Cape premier candidates.
With the party having secured 6 660 votes (0.04%) in the 2019 elections, it aims to solidify its status as a “government-in-waiting” through an outright majority or coalition-building efforts.
According to the Daily Maverick, Kenny Kunene, the PA deputy president and MC for the day, introduced the party’s national executive at the outset.
Subsequently, smaller regional parties participating in the elections but supporting the PA were acknowledged.
These include Advieskantoor, led by Leon Campher; The Karoo Gemeenskap Party, led by Goliath Lottering; The Karoo Democratic Force, led by Noël Constable; The Oudtshoorn Gemeenskap Initiatief, led by Colin Sylvester; and Witzenberg Aksie, led by Gert Laban.
McKenzie spoke for just under 50 minutes and repeated several points in the party’s manifesto, including:
- South Africa needs God: reintroduction of prayers in schools and workplaces;
- Sending young people for military service, because people should be ashamed that “our children are becoming welfare recipients” as they are unemployed and rely on the R35o social grant;
- Returning the death penalty for murder – “my regime, if you kill somebody, you will also be killed”; and
- If the party is in power on 1 June, all ‘illegal’ foreigners must go.
Read more: DA plans to challenge smaller parties in the Western Cape