Each new day brings another painful reminder that the ANC is still in power and it has no chance of self-correcting. South Africans deserve better than the dead ANC, we deserve a new beginning.

Wide-scale corruption has not only thrown the ANC into turmoil and it has also affected the governance of South Africa and our once strong state institutions – especially those mandated to root out corruption and hold those in power accountable.

The allegations contained in the Gupta leaks are staggering and the looting of the country’s State-owned Entities (SoEs) has bled the public purse dry. State Capture is real, yet President Jacob Zuma chooses to deny its existence by calling it “political propaganda”. On the other hand, the ANC’s Secretary-General, Gwede Mantashe, has confirmed State Capture. The ANC is evidently divided and cannot continue to lead South Africa.

The party’s elective conference in December will not salvage the ANC, despite the utterances made by some candidates stating that it is in a process of self-correction. Sadly, some members of the commentariat have bought into this lie.

The DA is the only party that can usher in a new beginning for our country. The DA has plans to resuscitate the economy, restore investor confidence and build a resilient society underpinned by moral values and ethical leadership. Our people deserve to live in a society where children are safe and women don’t have to live in constant fear for their lives.

The people of South Africa deserve a health care system that treats them with dignity; housing departments that are transparent and build quality homes for the poor; schools equipped with the best resources so that the brightest young minds are able to meaningfully participate in the economy once they graduate.

The ANC has rejected the ideals of a better South Africa, in favour of enriching a few elites while more and more South Africans languish in abject poverty. The extent of the collapse of our economy; the corruption that runs deep in government and the gross mismanagement of SoEs has plunged us into a socio-economic crisis.

The ANC’s disunity and their lack of visionary leadership for the people of South Africa points to a bleak future. ANC politicians show contempt for the suffering of our people. The likes of Social Development Minister, Bathabile Dlamini and disgraced former Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, are a scary reminder of the leaders that the ANC has moulded.

The ANC no longer cares and it is dead. Only the DA can unleash the full potential of South Africa and her people by ushering in a new beginning.

Radical economic transformation is nothing more than a catchphrase to distract South Africans from the dire state of affairs of our country. Truth is no one really knows what this so-called radical economic transformation entails. South Africans will not be duped by the guise of “empowering the people” when the real intention is loot from the people.

The reality we need to face is that neither Cyril Ramaphosa nor Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will change the status quo – one only needs to look at their support of Jacob Zuma and his long history of corruption. Whoever takes over will merely serve as an extension of a criminal and patronage network.

South Africans must get ready for a future without the ANC. Our beautiful country deserves an inclusive future where there is freedom for all and equal access to opportunities. DA is the only party that can offer South Africans that new beginning. DM