The Democratic Alliance (DA) noted that it is committed to serving as the stable anchor party at the heart of a new national government comprising the Multi-Party Charter, noting that a vote for the party is a vote to prevent rule by an African National Congress-Economic Freedom Fighters coalition.

On Thursday DA leader John Steenhuisen launched the party’s 2024 election campaign on the streets of Gelvandale in Gqeberha, where he flighted the first of the party’s national election posters and unveiled its clear and urgent election slogan: “Rescue SA, Vote DA”.

Steenhuisen highlighted that the 2024 general election would be a “hinge of history” moment for South Africa, as citizens prepared to take to the polls to make the most important decision in the country’s democratic history.

“2024 offers us a last chance to rescue South Africa from the grip of the ANC’s criminal State and pull our country back from the brink of State failure and the complete collapse of the South African dream,” he said.

He added that in 2024, citizens must vote to rescue South Africa from the unemployment, loadshedding, water-shedding, crime, corruption, and cost-of-living crises that threaten the country’s very survival.

Steenhuisen explained that the DA’s practical and implementable manifesto, combined with its proven track record of good governance, creating jobs and improving lives, made the party the ideal party for every South African that wanted a new government to rescue South Africa.

He said in this election, voting for the DA was a win-win proposition.

“And a vote for the DA is a vote for a new national government with a strong anchor party at its heart, that can rescue South Africa. In this election, there is too much at stake to stay home,” he added.

E-TOLLS

Meanwhile, DA Gauteng Shadow Roads and Logistics MEC Fred Nel said that it would be holding Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to his promise to have e-toll gantries switched off by the end of March.

He explained that the DA would be tabling questions in the Gauteng provincial legislature to determine which organisations had been approached for loans to pay the e-toll debt of R12.9-billion and how this loan would be repaid.

This after the party learned that the Gauteng provincial government still had plans to collect the e-toll debt from motorists, and that it appeared that no agreement had been reached with the national government yet to scrap e-tolls.

The process of switching off the e-toll gantries will take place on March 31.

The DA has been fighting against the e-tolling system since its implementation, saying it put an extra financial burden on residents.

The party expressed its concerns with the R12.9-billion e-toll debt, saying any loan that was taken attracted interest, and this would place more financial strain on residents.