Joburg's DA 'mayor' argues for change

THE man who could be the City of Johannesburg mayor believes that politics is in desperate need of new blood.

Democratic Alliance mayoral candidate Mmusi Maimane, said yesterday: "I feel that our politics are tired. Currently, it is full of people who are fighting past wars. South African politics are ready for dynamic new brands. Otherwise, I am scared for our future.

"I joined the DA in 2009 because I feel that their policies are the ones that speak to me. I understand their vision for the country and feel that they understand the vision of Tata Mandela better. I have huge respect for the ANC but feel that it has a closed environment. The DA's track record in the country speaks for itself. You cannot say you are free if you do not have a choice."

Maimane, 30, said local elections were not about race but service delivery. "Racism is strong in the country, but those are the kind of politics that I do not want to be involved in. Those are the things that are setting the country backwards. Local elections are about basic services and not about race.

"During apartheid, whites were told to be aware of the swart gevaar. We now can't turn it around and say beware of the wit gevaar. I do not want to be part of those kind of politics, and Helen Zille also does not believe in that. The DA is a diverse party and it is continually transforming."

Maimane said it was hogwash that the party was using him to attract (black) votes. "That would be fronting. Fronting is what is happening with people who do not want to reveal their mayoral candidates. I want to be judged on the competency of the service that I will give to the city."

Maimane said he could not identify with the "new breed of blacks".

"They are more interested in opulence but they do not want to work for it. They just want to be tenderpreneuers. This is the new black that I am scared to be part of."

He said for debt-ridden councils to turn around and be able to compete with Cape Town and Midvaal in Gauteng, they had to attract young people. "The whole thing of cadre deployment is wrong. We need to attract efficient young people into the public service. In the first year of my takeover, we will work on accountability. That is why me and the people I will be working with will sign performance agreements.

"The billing system has to be sorted out so that the city can improve revenue. We have to fix potholes and ensure that manholes are there. We need to develop squatter areas and in that create jobs "