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3 months ago
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DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille says the meeting will debate and decide on key policy positions, including the framework of the DA’s manifesto for the local government election.
Fani Mahuntsi/Gallo Images
- The DA’s federal council meeting is expected to formalise its opposition to the District Development Model.
- The conference, held virtually, will outline the DA’s manifesto framework and debate policies on universal healthcare coverage, immigration, and environmental protection.
- Delegates will also address issues of corruption in SOE boards and risks tied to AI.
An extended meeting of the DA’s federal council is under way, with the party expected to make it its formal policy that it opposes the District Development Model (DDM).
The virtual policy conference, which is expected to conclude today, will also deliberate on policies on environment, healthcare, immigration, state-owned entity (SOE) boards, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The DDM is an ANC policy that was introduced in 2019 as part of the former ruling party’s broader framework to address persistent challenges in service delivery and local government coordination.
The DA has previously rejected DDM, with DA mayors making formal submissions to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs opposing the implementation of these regulations. The party argues that the DDM is unconstitutional as it undermines the constitutional autonomy of municipalities, among other things.
DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille said the meeting would debate and decide on key policy positions, including the framework of the DA’s manifesto for the local government election.
The policy conference sets the DA soundly on course to the election, as the first party out of the blocks, now preparing our manifesto and having been the first to have begun candidate selection.
“In addition to the framework for the upcoming local government manifesto, delegates will debate and decide on the DA’s environment policy; for a plan to protect South Africa’s water, air, biodiversity, and natural resources, and promoting environmental awareness and economic opportunities,” Zille said.
She said the policy conference would also consider a position paper on addressing illegal immigration and border management.
“Delegates will decide on the DA’s health policy, which supports universal healthcare coverage that is affordable and sustainable,” she said.
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Additionally, Zille said, the policy conference would decide on a position regarding the appointment of SOE board members. This, she stated, was to address corruption, nepotism and cadre deployment to SOE boards.
DA members of Parliament, provincial legislators, members of the federal executive, councillors, and DA branch members from across the country will also deliberate on the party’s position on the responsible use of AI in government and public life, as well as responding to the risks of it replacing people in the workplace.
