Political start-up Rise Mzansi is this week expected to conduct mobilisation and visibility activities across the country in the build-up to its election manifesto launch in capital city Tshwane at the weekend.
Several political parties will be launching their election manifestos ahead of the much-anticipated 2024 national and provincial elections. The ANC and EFF are expected to launch manifestos in February.
Rise Mzansi, which was formed in April 2023 and is led by author and former Business Day editor Songezo Zibi, wants every family to have access to three full meals a day; rural households to have access to potable water; a decent and affordable housing solution; and access to mental healthcare facilities, among other government services.
At its People’s Convention last year delegates discussed convention themes focusing on family in all its forms, community, governance, the economy, nation building and climate change.
The governance theme included electoral reform, candidate selection, immigration reform, fighting corruption, the cabinet, public service and security cluster reforms, green spaces and parks.
On the economy, the party says urgent steps need to be taken to reduce the worsening fiscal crisis; reallocate funds for food security; basic needs support and early childhood development; and fighting organised financial crime.
Rise Mzansi was launched at a time when SA is faced with unprecedented socioeconomic crises including low economic growth, high unemployment, energy crisis, rampant crime, looting and systemic corruption, and a dysfunctional logistics sector.
Zibi has said poor governance by bad politicians and corrupt political parties were standing in the way of prosperity and economic justice in SA.
Rise Mzansi national chief organiser Makashule Gana said the party was on track to contest the 2024 national and provincial elections with a message that “it is possible to wrest SA, so that we can eradicate poverty, end racism, end inequality and ensure the employment of our people”.
“It is in the hands of the people to remove the tried and tired political established that continues to lie to and loot from the people. When we say 2024 is 1994, it is an articulation of the idea that every vote has the opportunity to build the SA we truly deserve,” Gana said.
The DA is on Monday expected to conduct an oversight inspection at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) office in Cape Town.
“The purpose of the oversight is to evaluate their preparedness for the upcoming distribution of grants to hundreds of thousands of students for the academic year. The DA will seek to ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation and distribution of financial aid to deserving students.
“Our focus will be on assessing the efficiency, accuracy and accessibility of [the] NSFAS processes, ultimately aiming to enhance the support provided to students pursuing higher education,” the party said.
The DA delegation will be led by the DA shadow minister of higher education, Chantal King, and will include the DASO [DA Student Organisation] federal leader, Liam Jacobs, and shadow deputy minister of higher education Karabo Khakhau, an MP, and DASO federal chair Lenard Malesa.
SA is expected to host the seventh African Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba in Mbombela from Monday to Wednesday, and the theme of the meeting is “Africa’s global commitment to the Cuban Revolution”.
Delegations from more than 20 countries from the African continent and other regions are expected to participate.
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