DA federal chairperson Solly Msimanga has dismissed claims that the party protects ‘white monopoly capital’, arguing that businesses operating in DA-governed municipalities should succeed on merit rather than political connections or the ability to pay bribes.
Speaking on the sidelines of the DA’s manifesto launch rally at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg on Saturday, Msimanga rejected suggestions that the party’s policies favour white-owned businesses at the expense of black businesses, particularly those operating in townships.
“That’s rubbish,” Msimanga said.
He argued that businesses operating in areas governed by the DA should be able to secure opportunities without being expected to pay bribes or provide political favours.
“Go and ask how many black businesses do thrive from there. And they don’t get to be asked for bribes. They don’t get to be paying a brown envelope to be able to then get a job.”
Msimanga said the DA wanted businesses to succeed because of the value they offered rather than their political connections.
“We want businesses that prosper because they’ve got something to offer. Not because there are a little to somebody else,” he said.
He also drew a distinction between DA-run municipalities and allegations of corruption involving public representatives and officials elsewhere, pointing to the Madlanga Commission as an example.
“In the Madlanga Commission, you’ll never find a DA public representative or an official from the DA being dragged to come and account how contracts were awarded. That you’re never gonna see,” he said.
Msimanga argued that creating an environment where businesses could operate honestly was central to economic growth and job creation.
“We are contesting Johannesburg because it is a heartbeat of the economy.”
He said crime also had to be addressed if municipalities were to attract investment and create jobs, pointing to Gauteng’s infrastructure and economic assets.
Msimanga highlighted the presence of a major airport, railway connections and mining activity as opportunities that could be leveraged to drive economic development.
“If you want businesses to thrive and jobs to be created, we now need to then contest and win this municipality,” he said.
His remarks come as the DA seeks to expand its support ahead of the November local government elections, with the party positioning clean governance, economic opportunity and functioning municipalities at the centre of its campaign.
Msimanga also addressed the prospect of coalition governments following the elections, saying the DA was preparing for negotiations but would resist arrangements based primarily on the allocation of political positions.
“I am leading that process in the DA, so I’m leading that process because we want to be sure that whenever we’re going to talk about coalitions, we don’t talk about positions,” he said.
“We’re gonna be talking about what we need to do and deliver.”
Msimanga warned that coalition negotiations centred on positions could undermine the competence and stability of future administrations.
“If people start to negotiate on the basis of positions, then they go to auction themselves,” he said.
He said political parties could end up competing to offer one another positions rather than determining whether they shared the policies and governing principles needed to run a municipality effectively.
“One minute they’re talking to you, and they say, no, you give me this position, give me that position. The next minute, the other person says, no, I’ll give you that plus more.”
“And then, therefore, you’re not gonna have competent people to run government.”
Instead, Msimanga said the DA wanted coalition partners to focus on stabilising municipal finances, improving infrastructure and holding one another accountable.
“We say we want governments that will talk about how we stabilise the finances of municipality. How are we gonna deal with issues of infrastructure?”
He pointed to Johannesburg as an example of the scale of the challenges facing municipalities, particularly the city’s water losses.
“Johannesburg is falling apart. The fact that we’re losing so many litres of water every day means you will not be able to be financially sustainable.”
Msimanga said the DA would therefore seek coalition partners that shared its approach to governance and were willing to work towards stable administrations rather than simply pursuing positions.
“We need to just go to other political parties that understand that to get it right is not about position.”
“But it’s about how do we hold hands and have a stable government, and have policies that are going to be implemented… and hold each other to account.”
The DA’s manifesto, launched at the rally attended by thousands of supporters, centres on its pledge to build municipalities that deliver basic services, manage public finances responsibly and create conditions for businesses and communities to prosper.
