OPINION - We have a 31-year-old young democracy. Many mistakes costing trillions of rand have been made and for some, the DA has been wrongfully blamed.
Misinformation and disinformation are the order of the day, but the biggest concern is that the voters don't know what they vote for.
They don't know what government priorities and mandates are and how to measure success and obvious failures.
An example is that voters are made to believe that crime fighting and gang violence in the Western Cape are the failures of the DA, while it is the mandate of the national government through proper policing.
Historic lies repeat itself come elections.
Examples of these lies are that the DA is responsible for apartheid, while the truth is that our origin comes from the Progressive Party under Helen Suzman fighting against apartheid; and that if communities vote DA, apartheid would be brought back, despite the democratic government since 1994.
Unfortunately professionals, graduates, matriculants and educated people also fall in the trap of these fallacies - across all races.
These fallacies are being pushed by unions, MPs, legislatures and by political social media influencers on a grand scale, without remorse.
I personally fight back these narratives saying that no elected public representatives can ever use public money, projects or programmes to advance a certain race.
That would be unconstitutional and exactly what apartheid did.
An example is the Sassa Allpay grants. Everyone qualifies across racial lines where skin colour is not a determining factor.
Skin colour should never determine government assistance, programmes or policies. The needs and livelihoods of citizens should.
What we as coloured DA supporters must realise is that:
- Racial group politics and supporters already exist in South Africa, be it relatively new to coloured communities via the PA and NCC.
- Already citizens rally behind white party for white interests.
- Already black voters rally behind parties for blacks.
- Already there are a parties for Muslims, Christians, Zulu's and other different races, religious and ethical interests.
This is not us. This is not the DA. We are a mixed pot of South Africans. We stand for all races, religions and cultures.
This is why we have a non-racialism pledge as part of our membership sign-up - why we say... if you are racist, stay away from the DA.
Our stronghold is the provision of better services than any other party in government. This we proved so many times from the worst of situations over and over.
Yes... no thumb-sucking. No lies. No misinformation. Facts backed up by the Auditor General, Stats SA and many outside independent institutions.
Our best judges are the exact same voters, including the coloured voters. Where the DA governs, things get done.
Not everything is perfect where we govern. Yet our achievements stand out like night from day in comparison with ANC/PA municipalities where they are in charge.
Think about the immediate changes we brought to the Western Cape Province, City of Cape Town, Kouga Eastern Cape, Umgeni KZN and Midvaal Joburg Municipalities, to name a few.
Coloured voters in South Africa need to consider these realities. Coloured voters of the DA need to carry these achievements.
I will always be a coloured, my vote will never be for a certain group or race only, but based on how best public monies are spend on communities based on their needs and not their skin colour.
Eldrige Ruiters from Aberdeen serves as a DA councillor on Dr Beyers Naude Municipality council based in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape.
Comment and opinion are that of the author and not necessarily shared by Group Editors, any of its publications or staff members.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
