Accepting his nomination as RISE Mzansi’s Western Cape Premier candidate in Khayelitsha, Axolile Notywala stressed the importance of equality and unity across all regions in the country, including the areas that Notywala says have been neglected by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Describing his life growing up in Khayelitsha, Notywala said despite the Western Cape being called by some the best-run province in the country, the reality in many informal settlements had not reflected that.

“This province has been governed by the Democratic Alliance for the past 15 years now, since 2009. During these 15 years of uncaring DA governance in the Western Cape, many of your lived realities have remained the same, and in some instances, the realities have gotten worse. This country has been governed by the African National Congress for the past 30 years now, since 1994. During these 15 years of ANC governance under Presidents Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa, many of your lived realities have remained the same, and in some instances, the realities have gotten worse. Those of us who have lived under governments led by the ANC and DA can firmly say that there is little to no difference. Too many of us are still living in hell,” he stated.

He noted the scourge of violence and inequality in the province and said it was time for new leaders.

He called out City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, saying that black and coloured workers who used most of their salaries on public transport to reach their jobs in the “clean and functioning” CBD and the suburbs, found their own areas were left in literal rubbish that had not been collected for months.

He said prosperity in the Western Cape for black and coloured residents remained a pipe dream.

Notywala further called out the ANC and DA for not undoing apartheid spatial planning, which he said contributed to further divisions between black and coloured people in the province.

He pointed out that instead of pursuing a mechanical engineering degree, he joined the Social Justice Coalition, a civil society movement that campaigns for the advancement of the constitutional rights to life, dignity, equality, freedom and safety for all people, particularly those living in informal settlements.

“In this work, with many other civil society organisations and social movements, we did make some progress. But the progress we made, has sadly not been close to being enough, and has not changed the lived realities of many of you in the Western Cape. This is because those we elected, those we voted for, those who occupy seats in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature and the National Assembly, do not care about you. The ANC and the DA do not care about you and your families,” he said to those in attendance.

He critisised Ramaphosa and the ANC government for not making progress on drugs and gang violence in the Western Cape, and Western Cape Premier Alan Winde for not dealing with housing backlogs.

“That is the reason why today I am standing in front of you, as Axolile Notywala, to announce that I have accepted the nomination and the call to be the RISE Mzansi Western Cape Premier candidate. It is because I care and because I believe in the RISE Mzansi vision, for a South Africa that is safe, prosperous, equal and united, in one generation, where everyone can live a happy and dignified life. Where everyone, not just some, can live a happy and dignified life! I care about our country, and I care about your communities and the wellbeing of your families. With these RISE Mzansi leaders sitting next to me here, we care. We deserve leaders who care. We need these new leaders,” he said.

He thanked community policing forums, neighbourhood watches, walking buses, children’s organisations and women’s organisations for their work on safety and also announced the launch of RISE Mzansi’s #SeizeTheGuns #EndPoliceCorruption campaign, on Human Rights Day, on March 21.

Notywala also acknowledged founders and coaches of sports teams, mental health practitioners and youth organisations in their mission to keep the youth away from drugs; civil society organisations, NGOs and social movements for defending the country’s democracy; and people that have started community kitchens and food gardens.

“We deserve a better future and a better country for all of us, and our children,” he ended.