By lehlohonolo Lehana.
ActionSA has launched its 2024 election manifesto with a 30 year “opportunity fund” to replace black economic empowerment and a promise to secure South Africa’s borders and overhaul its criminal justice system.
The party will be contesting their first National Election this year after previously winning seats in the local government elections in 2021, receiving the bulk of their support from Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
ActionSA is currently South Africa’s sixth largest party, despite having only contested six municipalities countrywide in 2021.
It is now represented in all 52 districts in South Africa and is on the ballot in all nine provinces.
ActionSA leader herman Mashaba delivered the ActionSA Manifesto at the Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, to a packed crowd dressed in full of green regalia.
“Our plan will unlock millions of new jobs, safer communities, secured borders, access to quality education and healthcare for all, and for the first time, the inclusive empowerment of all previously disadvantaged South Africans, as well as those who have been hamstrung by three decades under an uncaring, unethical and unpatriotic government,” he said.
Mashaba said their manifesto was not a long list of populist promises and unrealistic commitments, but rather a list of promises to improve the lives of citizens.
“It is a vision of what is possible under an ethical and competent government and forms of programmatic and implementable plan to fixing South Africa by addressing the greatest challenges facing our people, he said.
Mashaba, however, emphasised that securing borders would be his greatest priority as president to bring an end to illegal immigration, and the inflow of illicit goods, while streamlining legal immigration.
“We have always said that we want the people of the world to come to South Africa, but, they must do so legally and when they are here, they must obey our laws.”
“Fixing this issue starts with securing our porous borders. We remain apologetic about our stance on this. We will stop the flow of illicit and counterfeit goods which endanger our people, he said.
Mashaba slammed the current government for allowing factories to shut down and promised to reinvigorate industrial areas, such as Garankuwa Industrial Park where he established the highly successful Black Like Me hair product factory in 1985.
He said they would create conditions for investment and job creation by handing hijacked buildings and deserted industrial parks to the private sector and by stimulating an inclusive economy to address issues of economic injustice.
Government would insource all functions that it possibly could, to build capacity and do away both over-reliance on consultants and the exploitation of workers currently retained on contract for decades, especially at municipal level.
He has also promised to end load-shedding within two years through steps including using economic sabotage charges to break criminal syndicates milking Eskom, and by introducing alternative energy sources and a local grid system.
ActionSA wants a review of the minimum sentencing for crimes like rape, murder and corruption, and would also ensure that “life in prison will mean life in prison”.
The party will reintroduce specialised policing units, including the Scorpions and the Brixton Murdery and Robbery Unit and specialised narcotics and sexual crimes units in order to secure more prosecutions, Mashaba said.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of ActionSA.