Politics

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ROAD TO 2024 ELECTIONS

Rise Mzansi aims to put brakes on blue light brigades

Rise Mzansi's comprehensive manifesto tackles various issues such as basic income, climate change, crime, economy, education, food, governance, global policy, health, jobs, land, power cuts, migration, NHI, professionalisation of public service, and cool things, but with a reality check that it may not gain much support in the upcoming election.

From left: Rise Mzansi’s Irfaan Mangera, Cilna Steyn, national leader Songezo Zibi, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa and Makashule Gana. (Photos: Supplied)

By Ferial Haffajee

28 Jan 2024

Basic income (grants) and social policy

Substance abuse policy is a focus;
Mental health is an imperative;
Sanitation infrastructure; low-cost internet in every community;
A combination of government income grants and food discount vouchers.

Climate change and the environment

Leave-no-one-behind policy in which coal use decreases steadily;
A balanced, green energy mix;
Tax deductions for rooftop solar;
Fully electrify the transport system.

Crime and corruption

Full audit of senior leadership of South African Police Service;
Intelligence-based policing;
Community involvement in crime intelligence gathering;
Reduce how long it takes to prosecute corruption cases.

Economy

Double the size of the economy every 12 years – target 6% GDP growth per annum;
Stakeholder capitalism model of business, trade unions and civic groups;
Private investment in public assets;
Support black people and women in business;
Ease skilled migration and business travel to support green industries, tourism, the creative economy, cannabis and hemp, and advanced manufacturing.

Education

Develop a road map: Bilingual education with at least one African language;
Scale the National Youth Service;
Improve the quality of teaching, especially in science, tech, engineering and maths.

Food

The family is the social unit of care, and food is the fulcrum policy for Rise.

Governance

Create a capable state of professionals;
Cut the size of Cabinet;
Appoint heads of SAPS, NPA, SARS and others on merit through public interviews;
Simplify and make transparent public procurement processes;
Ban blue light brigades;
Place dysfunctional municipalities under administration.

Global policy

Make it human rights-centred as a moral example – a South African source of soft power;
Support global governance reforms;
Focus on economic diplomacy, advance Africa’s development.

Health

Establish a primary health and wellness facility within a 15-minute ride of every home;
Expand public healthcare with new facilities and healthcare workers – funded through savings from ending procurement corruption;
Reform the existing health system.

Jobs

Support anchor industries to grow jobs – mining, agriculture, financial services, tourism, manufacturing and services;
Set up skills training for one million people without matric within five years.

Land

Focus on urban land ownership and distribution because most people live in cities.

Power cuts (energy)

Change the Eskom board, review all contracts, fire corrupt officials and reform procurement;
Develop local solar production and installation by tapping international climate change transition finance;
(See climate change).

Migration

Dramatically reduce irregular immigration;
Stop illegal migration at the source country;
Reduce the pull factor of irregular immigration by enforcement of employers;
Fix asylum – a de facto permit for economic migrants;
Ease skilled migration.

NHI (universal health coverage)

Private healthcare facilities, which generally benefit those with medical aid, are insufficient in number and capacity to provide effective healthcare for everyone, even with an instrument like the NHI.

Professionalisation of public service

Allow only professionals to serve at senior management levels;
This is a cornerstone Rise policy, and it is detailed.

Reality check

Rise will get about 7% of the vote, according to its own polling;
This is a manifesto for the 2029 election;
If Zibi takes a score of MPs into the next Parliament, it will shake things up substantially.

Cool things

Having a strong, considered focus on people with disabilities;
Reshaping the idea of nonracialism to focus on spatial and economic injustices.

We love the ban on blue light brigades for all politicians except the president, deputy president and visiting heads of state. That everyone from ministers to mayors and even MECs get blue light convoys is a practice of Orwellian awfulness. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R29.

Comments (10)

hlangi.vundla Jan 29, 2024, 06:52 AM

We applaud RISE MZANSI’s stance on reconfiguring urban land which is long overdue. Yet we are mindful of the fact that urban/residential land is not a means of production as compared to agricultural and natural resources land which is still in the hands of a few. Talk about South Africa being the most unequal society in the world!

Fanie Rajesh Ngabiso Jan 29, 2024, 03:05 PM

The real problem today Hlangi is institutionalized crime and corruption. Without this EVERYONE would be a lot better off already. So our number 1 priority as South Africa citizens is voting in support of law and order, and its proper enforcement. This is the foundation on which everything else depends. 2nd is ensuring proper provision of basic services, which will stimulate our economy giving everyone more money and reducing needless deaths. Next is education to uplift everyone and allow all to earn income equally. All the rest will automatically follow - and South Africa will become equal for all; naturally.

Fanie Rajesh Ngabiso Jan 29, 2024, 07:49 AM

I fail to understand all these parties. The more opposition parties, the less likely any are to win, and the less likely they are to help our country effectively as they actively dilute a united opposition. Which leads me to thinking that these parties are more about individuals wanting fame and power than about helping the people of our country. Therefore I for one will vote DA as it is the largest credible party and, unlike being just hype like these other wannabee parties, already has a proven track record of good governance in very trying circumstances. Remember, it is easy to be small, cool, and saying all "the right stuff" - it is much harder to run a clean party in South Africa when bigger, and the DA are doing so I believe as well as possible in this ANC created swamp.

Colin K Jan 29, 2024, 08:57 AM

Unfortunately, you are correct in that we have vote tactically as much as voting with our conscience. I'm not a fan of current parties (government and opposition) and I do like the cut of Rise Mzansi's jib, but at this critical juncture for SA splitting the opposition vote would be counter-productive. I never disclose my vote and wouldn't tell others how to vote. That said, disrupting the ruling party's ability to ram through their pet legislative projects is essential. At this point the easiest way to do that is to target our upper legislative house, NCOP. A good outcome would be to look at who the strongest opposition is in your province (WC excluded) and vote for them provincially. Vote tactically or with your conscience, vibes or whatever nationally. The National Assembly is a loud monster and will be harder and take longer to fix. So start with the middle (NCOP) and then move on to bigger (national) and smaller (local) governments.

Geoff Coles Jan 29, 2024, 10:02 AM

Some of the leaders really, really, really want to get elected to a Parliament to secure guaranteed income stream

Jacques Stoop Jan 29, 2024, 08:38 PM

I don't understand the dilution argument when our election system is specifically designed to be proportional. We are headed for the era of multiparty coalitions. It's unavoidable for a system like ours. The ANC was dominant for a while but it was the liberation party. I doubt that things will stay the same. Voting for a party you agree most with will give it more weight in any coalition. Look at how Germany works: they have many parties in their coalitions and they have a very successful political climate. Also fresh parties require a chance to prove themselves too. We need fresh ideas.

Just Another Day Jan 29, 2024, 08:25 AM

It looks like Rise Mzansi and Zibi could have made their political home the DA, who share the same aims as them, but maybe Zibi just bought into the ANC's false narrative that the ANC has been peddling for far tool long that the DA is not a party for blacks. Ironically the DA is the most racially inclusive party in SA. The ANC use their last remaining token whites, like Cameron Dougmore to push their false narrative.

virginia crawford Jan 30, 2024, 08:24 AM

But have somehow not increased their share of the vote in 29 years. They are too smug to ask themselves why.

Rae Earl Jan 29, 2024, 09:25 AM

Rise Mzansi has far too many lofty ideals, in fact so many that an entire parliament would find it impossible to restructure and implement. The DA and IFP, individually or in coalition is KZN's only hope. At least there are many years of political know-how run by well qualified people in both parties.

Karl Sittlinger Jan 29, 2024, 10:26 AM

Maybe it's just me, but doesn't Rise Mzansi manifesto look almost exactly like the DAs policies?

BadVlad Putinhere Jan 29, 2024, 11:07 AM

I will vote for them just to get rid of these blue light brigades, and VIP protection units for self important, unqualified public servants that earn huge salaries to do nothing other than sit and plot corrupt activities all day!

Chris Young Jan 29, 2024, 12:43 PM

Hope I am allowed to ask a question rather than comment. Firstly, however, THANK YOU for all that you do to keep us informed. I appreciate your efforts very much. 2 questions Firstly I may have missed it but could you tell us a little more about the leaders of Rise and of the various other new parties. What their background is, age etc. Secondly, this may not be appropriate but with so much corruption around are you able to tell us if the leaders of the various parties have allegedly been tainted with corruption/state capture or not. Many thanks, Chris

les@leslieback.co.za Jan 29, 2024, 02:04 PM

If this guy, Songezo Zibi, is that good, then there is hope yet. I love all this...not only the ban on blue light brigades, but what a great headline grabber that is. Rise Mzanzi....like the name too. All good. I think all the elderly folk at my luxury Retirement Resort will love this manifesto. So, let's go. Start printing T-Shirts for us to wear. Rise Mzanzi !!!!

virginia crawford Jan 30, 2024, 08:25 AM

And on the back print: The ANC must fall.

T'Plana Hath Jan 30, 2024, 12:05 PM

You forgot one 'cool thing' ... Every time a corruption case is prosecuted successfully and speedily, we all get to shout, "Zap it in a Zibi!"

jonathan.mogale Feb 1, 2024, 11:35 AM

Interesting manifesto. How practically is it? I'm not sure.

DM is much better if you are signed in...

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