As the local government elections approach on November 4, the SA Jewish Report has been engaging with various political parties and candidates to understand their positions on issues that impact the Jewish community and the broader South African society. The report contacted representatives of the ANC, Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), and the Patriotic Alliance, but they did not respond to the queries.
Ferlon Christians, the African Christian Democratic Party's (ACDP) Cape Town mayoral candidate, expressed his party's unwavering support for Israel and Judeo-Christian values. He emphasized that the ACDP believes in the equality of all individuals in the sight of God and values the contributions made by the Jewish community, particularly in technology. Christians highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of crime to ensure community safety.
Herman Mashaba, the ActionSA Johannesburg mayoral candidate, presented his party's commitment to public service and building a non-racial society based on social justice. He assured that ActionSA would treat all law-abiding South Africans equally, protecting the rights of all religious groups. Mashaba emphasized his personal commitment to public service and his willingness to work with any party that shares ActionSA's values, provided they prioritize combating corruption and delivering public services to all communities.
Geordin Hill-Lewis, the DA mayor of Cape Town seeking re-election, stated that every South African deserves to live in safety, dignity, and freedom, regardless of their faith, race, or background. He acknowledged the significant contributions made by South Africa's Jewish community and emphasized the DA's commitment to defending religious freedom and combating antisemitism. Hill-Lewis highlighted the DA's achievements in Cape Town, including the creation of 418,000 jobs over the past five years.
Helen Zille, the DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate, focused on the core responsibilities of local government, including service delivery. She emphasized that everyone needs basic services such as water, electricity, roads, and refuse removal, and that the DA would strive to deliver these services to all communities, irrespective of their religious affiliation.
The candidates also shared their views on international issues being brought into local municipal politics, such as the proposed renaming of Sandton Drive. Ferlon Christians described the renaming as "uncalled for and ridiculous." Herman Mashaba stated that ActionSA would not support anything that causes division in the country, while Geordin Hill-Lewis did not directly address the issue.
The leaders' stances on coalition governments were also revealed, with Ferlon Christians indicating that the ACDP would be willing to work with the DA and FF Plus, but not with the ANC, EFF, MKP, or Al Jama-ah. Herman Mashaba stated that ActionSA would work with any party given to it by the voters of Johannesburg, provided they agree to prioritize combating corruption and delivering public services.
Key points
- The SA Jewish Report engaged with various political parties and candidates to understand their positions on issues affecting the Jewish community.
- Candidates from different parties shared their visions for improving service delivery, restoring confidence in local government, and addressing international issues.
- The stances of the candidates on coalition governments and key issues may influence the voting decisions of the Jewish community in the upcoming local government elections.
