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Freedom Day; a moment to reflect on Change we need to Move Forward Again

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The following is an extract from a speech delivered by DA Mayoral Candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay, Athol Trollip, to over 1000 people at the West End Community Hall in Port Elizabeth on Freedom Day:

Today we acknowledge the role our older generation has played in preparing us to fight for the change we need to move forward again.

True freedom is a long way off, but our older generation has gifted the younger generation with a determined spirit geared to deliver change, and we thank them for that.

At this year’s local government election, we have the opportunity to vote for change that gets South Africa moving forward again; a vote for the DA is a vote for better service delivery, job creation and stopping corruption.

Today we remember an important moment in our history; South Africa’s first democratic election, held in 1994. 22 years later, and the progress began by Nelson Mandela then, has stalled under the ANC of today.

Under President Zuma and Mayor Jordaan’s ANC, corruption is rampant, unemployment is desperately high, our economy is shrinking and services are not being delivered.

In Nelson Mandela Bay, we suffer tens of thousands of bucket toilets – the highest number of any Metro – dilapidating RDP houses, illegal dumping, golden handshakes for those implicated in corruption scandals and almost 40% unemployment.

Surely on Freedom Day we can say to Danny Jordaan and the rest of the ANC, in seeking to appreciate our Freedom in the face of corruption: Enough is enough!

This past weekend, the DA launched our Local Government Manifesto in Johannesburg – a blueprint for change and hope in municipalities long-forgotten by the ANC.

In Nelson Mandela Bay, the DA can win and immediately will begin working to transform the Bay into one of the leading Metros in the country because where the DA governs, unemployment is the lowest in South Africa, corruption is stopped and services are delivered.

Over the next  99 days we will roll out an intensive three phase campaign to secure an outright win in NMB. Our manifesto speaks to the change we need to move forward again, and now we invite the residents of NMB to join us on this march toward making our Metro the greatest it can be.

The DA can win Nelson Mandela Bay at this year’s local government election, and the next 99 days will secure the change we need to move forward again.

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Port Elizabethan

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