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17 February 12:59
Seenhuisen says President Cyril Ramaphosa must stop cowering away, and call this election.
"Come on!"
With that he concludes his speech to the roars and songs of the crowd.
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:58
Steenhuisen says a vote for the DA is a vote for the Rescue Plan for South Africa to sit at the heart of a new multi-party government.
"If you want to rescue South Africa from unemployment, from load shedding and water-shedding, from crime, from corruption, from poverty and hunger, from failing schools and from broken hospitals, then you must vote for the DA. If you want to rescue the Union Buildings behind me from the corrupt clutches of those who plunged our country into hardship, then you must vote for the DA," he says
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:56
Steenhuisen says the ANC will be forced to handover its cadre deployment records on Monday. The Constitutional Court has ordered that these records be handed over by 17:00 on Monday.
"After delaying for more than three years following the DA's initial request for these records to be made public to expose Ramaphosa's role in state capture, the ANC yesterday came crawling back to the DA, begging us to give them more time. I'd like to take this opportunity to respond to Ramaphosa and the ANC directly. No, you cannot get more time. Not to hand over these records, and not in government. You have wasted South Africa’s time for long enough," he says
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:49
Steenhuisen says in 2024, the nightmare that confronts South Africans is that the lives of next generation could be much worse than the current generation."For the ANC has so utterly betrayed our nation, that we are now further from fulfilling the dream of 1994 than at any other point in our democratic history," he says.
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:47
Steenhuisen says the DA offers solemn pledges, not populist rhetoric. We will focus our time in government like a laser beam on implementing these seven key pledges, because we understand that if we do not fix these seven things, South Africa does not have a future.
Unlike Cyril Ramaphosa's desperate efforts to whitewash his government’s failures, the DA's manifesto is rooted in the reality of what South Africa is in 2024, not in the memory of what it promised to be in 1994.
-Jason Felix
17 February 12:45
Steenhuisen promises that the DA will create two million new jobs; end load shedding and water-shedding; halve the rate of violent crime, including murder, attempted murder and gender-based violence; crush corruption by abolishing cadre deployment in favour of merit-based appointments and a capable state that delivers for all.
He also promises to lift six million people out of poverty, triple the number of Grade Four learners who can read for meaning; and ensure quality healthcare for all, irrespective of economic status.
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:43
According to Steenhuisen, winning elections and entering government is a means to the ultimate end.
"That ultimate end, is to serve all the people of South Africa by making their lives better. That is why I am proud today to launch the DA's Rescue Plan for South Africa, our manifesto for the historic 2024 election. This manifesto is the outcome of the most comprehensive policymaking process in the history of our party, built upon a raft of updated policies we adopted since 2019," he says
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:41
Steenhuisen says the DA feels a profound sense of responsibility towards the Multi Party Charter.
"By bringing an end to opposition infighting, and consolidating likeminded parties into a cohesive bloc, this formation – now known as the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa – offers voters the best prospect for political change since 1994. Given our size, our proud track record of clean and accountable government, and our success in delivering services and jobs where we govern, the DA is committed to becoming the strong, stable anchor party at the heart of a new multi-party government to rescue South Africa," he says.
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:40
Steenhuisen says the ANC only has one man to blame for its demise and that is President Cyril Ramaphosa.
"For decades, [he] did everything in his power to enable and protect Zuma. Ramaphosa even freed over 15 000 criminals just to keep Zuma out of prison. The very same Zuma is now helping to evict Ramaphosa from the Union Buildings behind me," he says.
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:39
Steenhuisen says for the first time in our democratic history, support for the ANC is set to crash well below 50%.
"It is a party in terminal decline, being ripped to shreds from all sides. The ANC was already on its knees when Jacob Zuma's MK Party entered the fray. As we speak, MK is devouring millions of ANC votes," he says.
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:36
According to Steenhuisen, the Union Buildings is where the ANC executed the plans that created the world's highest unemployment rate, unleashed violent criminals on innocent people, and captured the state.
"It is inside these buildings, that the dreams of Tintswalo, and millions of other hopeful young people, were betrayed."
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:35
Steenhuisen tells the crowd: "I’m speaking to you today from an auspicious location. Directly behind me, you will see the Union Buildings. The seat of government, at the heart of our capital city. These buildings should be the pride of every South African. But, over the past decades, these buildings have come to mean something very different."
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:33
DA leader John Steenhuisen is now on the stage to deliver the main address. He walks up to the stage to the roars of the crowd.
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:32
DA marches to the Union Buildings to symbolise intent to take over as government after election
The DA staged a peaceful march on Saturday to symbolise its readiness to take occupancy of the Union Buildings after the 2024 elections.
It was a sea of blue umbrellas in the streets of Tshwane as party members and supporters made their way to the Union Buildings, where they would listen to party leader John Steenhuisen unpack the DA's blueprint to "rescue South Africa".
DA supporters and their leaders walked from Church Square, joined Madiba Street, and made their way to the Union Buildings lawns to listen to the party's election manifesto.
The manifesto's priorities are to create jobs, end load shedding and water shedding, halve the crime rate, abolish cadre deployment, lift millions of people out of poverty, triple the number of Grade 4 pupils who can read with understanding, and ensure quality healthcare for all irrespective of economic status.
17 February 12:28
Meyer says South Africa should elect a president that speaks the truth and honours their oath of office.
"I want you to imagine a government free form corruption and one that can end load shedding. Imagine a world where women and girls can walk in the street without worrying about gender-based violence," he says
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:25
DA federal chairperson Ivan Meyer says the country has a lame duck president and government.
"This is their eviction notice. We want a government that cares for all the people."
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:21
DA Gauteng premier candidate Solly Msimanga says it's only a matter of time before Gauteng is also "rescued". Msimanga also states that he will not name the "other party" because the name that should be on everyone's mind should be DA.
"I am fighting to win Gauteng because I know that this is a province worth rescuing. This is the biggest march in the history of DA. We are saying to president Cyril Ramaphosa pack your bags," Msimanga said.
- Siyamtanda Capa
17 February 12:18
According to Msimanga, this is the biggest March in the party's history.
"The rescue mission needs us (the DA)," said Msimanga.
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:17
A sea of blue umbrellas at Union Buildings on 17 February 2024 where the DA launched their elections manifesto.
- Picture by: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
17 February 12:15
DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga is now on the podium. He says Gauteng will soon be a province under the governance of the DA.
- Jason Felix
17 February 12:13
The DA's manifesto launch is underway. The party's chief whip Siviwe Gwarube is addressing those in attendance and says DA leaders and foot soldiers are here to deliver an eviction notice to the ANC.
"We are here to take measurements for the curtains," Gwarube said.
- Siyamtanda Capa
17 February 11:50
The manifesto launch rally has started with thousands of DA supporters gathered here and several hundreds more still making their way to the Union Buildings. The crowd is now dancing to a performance from popular Afrikaans singer Kurt Darren.
- Jason Felix
17 February 11:25
Thousands of DA supporters have arrived at the Union Buildings. There is a sea of blue umbrellas on the lawns of the Union Buildings as many seek shelter from the heat.
Picture: Jason Felix/News24
17 February 11:22
DA supporters gathered at Church Square in Pretoria before making their way to the Union Buildings where party leader John Steenhuisen is expected to deliver the manifesto.
- Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
17 February 11:19
A supporters at Church Square during the Democratic Alliance National Manifesto Launch at Union Buildings on 17 February, 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa.
- Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
17 February 11:10
DA officials are preparing for the influx of about 15 000 supporters, while the officials are running around testing sound and putting the final touches to the stage. The sound of the crowd approaching the Union’s Buildings is getting louder.
- Jason Felix
17 February 11:05
DA supporters are currently marching to the Union Buildings in Pretoria where leader John Steenhuisen is expected to deliver the party’s election manifesto speech.
Thousands of supporters were bused in from the party's provincial structures.
The official opposition is holding its rally outside the Union Buildings to signal its intention to take governance of the country.
Several polls have shown the DA's performance is stable, ranging between 19% and 23% across the six polls News24 analysed. An analysis of the data shows fluctuating support for the EFF between 11% and 18%. Other polls have pointed to a likely scenario involving the EFF becoming the official opposition.
-Jason Felix
17 February 10:48
'This is a historic moment': DA gears up for manifesto rally at Union Buildings it hopes to occupy
The DA has proclaimed its readiness to host a "historical" election manifesto rally at the Union Buildings in Pretoria – the very office it wants to occupy after the polls. According to DA federal chairperson Ivan Meyer, the manifesto launch, taking place on Saturday, transcends the boundaries of a mere event.
"It marks a movement of unparalleled proportions, with the largest mobilisation effort in the history of the DA. Tens of thousands of DA supporters from every corner of South Africa will participate in the march from Church Square to the Union Buildings, showcasing an unprecedented level of enthusiasm," he said.
Meyer was speaking at a press conference at the Union Buildings, where the party's logistics for the event were shared.
17 February 09:38
Several buses have been dropping off DA supporters ahead of the manifesto launch at the Union Building. It's still fairly quiet at the main stage, but a small number of supporters have started making their way onto the grounds. The march from Church Square starts at 10:00.
- Jason Felix
17 February 09:25
DA upbeat about manifesto rally but leaders warn against complacency, taking voters for granted
While the DA has a blueprint to rescue South Africa, its manifesto launch this Saturday will serve as a statement of intent to safeguard its status as the official opposition and keep a firm grip on the Western Cape.
DA policy head Mat Cuthbert says the party is not too worried about the EFF possibly taking over as the official opposition, as suggested by several polls.
Two other senior leaders, Siviwe Gwarube and Ivan Meyer, have, however, spoken extensively about the party's prospects, making it clear that they won't take anything for granted and insisting that there is no place for complacency.
