Tomorrow the Democratic Alliance (DA) tabled motion of no confidence against Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi will be voted on. Now RISE Mzansi calls it what it is – a motion ”premised on superiority mentality” ...

by Jonathan Moremi

Three weeks ago the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng  tabled a motion of no confidence against Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi for his alleged ”failure to provide effective governance, create jobs, ensure safety, and promote economic opportunities”. The primary reason given however was his alleged ”reckless and irresponsible implementation of the failed Amapanyaza project”. This, after a Public Protector report found that the Gauteng crime prevention wardens (Amapanyaza) were unlawfully established.

The DA cannot go it alone. While the ANC in the Gauteng parliament only occupies 28 out of 80 seats, the DA, having only 22, would need partners to reach the 41 votes in order to be successful. But the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) has already rejected the idea of supporting the DA, while the EFF and ActionSA demanded an apology from the DA first for criticising them continuously. The DA made clear that it would not apologise. 

Now RISE Mzansi’s National Chairperson, Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (MPL) and MEC for Agriculture, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, too has made clear, what to think of the DA’s move to oust the Gauteng Premier. And she did not mince her words. She called the DA’s motion ”opportunistic, reckless, and irresponsible” and said that the motion was ”for media headlines, premised on superiority mentality”.

”RISE Mzansi strongly rejects the DA’s motion of no confidence in Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi. This is not about accountability — it is about desperation and electoral relevance.

The DA is once again putting politics before people, showing a dangerous willingness to destabilise the province for its own narrow gain.

At a time when Gauteng is preparing to take the global stage as host of the G20, the DA’s reckless move shows that they have no plan for leadership, no vision for the province, and no regard for the people who depend on stable governance.

The proposed motion is for media headlines, premised on superiority mentality. They have no roadmap for change of government. In short, it is aimed at creating chaos.

RISE Mzansi rejects any attempt to create instability in the province. The DA will continue to play political games, while RISE Mzansi’s focus is on getting Gauteng working — fixing what’s broken, supporting small businesses and farmers, creating jobs, and improving basic services.

We refuse to join those who gamble with people’s lives for headlines and cheap political points. Gauteng deserves better — it deserves leadership that is accountable, responsible, and focused on delivery, not division.

The DA’s motion is opportunistic, reckless, and irresponsible. Stability threatens the DA’s relevance. It is time to focus on improving the lives of Gauteng residents. RISE Mzansi is committed to the real work of rebuilding Gauteng not dividing the province.”

While RISE Mzansi, as the other small parties in the Gauteng parliament, does not  hold the power to decide this, from the reaction so far of basically all vital players it can safely be predicted that the DA’s motion of no confidence in the Gauteng Legislature tomorrow will not find the necessary majority. 

It would help South Africa a lot, if the DA would stop playing unnecessary political games that lead to nothing but clog up vital time, in which the house should rather deal with solving the issues that plague the people of Gauteng. There is enough to do to move things forward. Playing around ”for headlines”, as Ramokgopa rightly points out, won’t get any of it done.

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