Opposition party leader Mmusi Maimane, has hit the campaign trail in Bloemfontein this morning. This is ahead of the general elections next week when the Democratic Alliance’s head met with supporters at Waaihoek in the central business district.
Maimane was joined by DA Premier Candidate, Patricia Kopane, as he raised the crowd into a stir outside of the Waaihoek Wesleyan Church, where the leading party, ANC, was founded in 1912.
According to Maimane residents have the opportunity to vote for change next week Wednesday. “Today is exactly nine days before we make history and it is significant because the history of South Africa is one in which one race oppressed another through the rise of colonialism, Afrikaner nationalism and African nationalism but today we are here to say that we need change,” he said.
A group of young and old from Mangaung gathered in their blue DA regalia near the bustling taxi rank. Bloemfontein Courant spoke to a few of them about what brought them to the small rally. “I would like Maimane to visit my area in Phase 10 to see how we are living. We live in dirt and we have no RDPs, toilets or water. All we have are shacks and I hope this will change,” said Kholiwe Velem.
Rethabile Lethoko expressed that her family has been badly impacted by inadequate infrastructure. “My mother in-law lives near a water way and when there are heavy rains the yard becomes flooded. I had to take young my child who lives with her to the hospital after he was affected by the sewage coming into the yard,” said Lethoko.
Maimane will be conducting door-to-door across the city before visiting other provinces throughout the week. – Nomaqhawe Mtebele
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