As the upcoming national and provincial government elections approach, the DA is actively discouraging support for smaller parties, urging voters to refrain from backing them.
The election is scheduled for May 29.
According to the party, smaller parties, labeled as "popcorn parties," may encounter challenges in operating effectively within the national and provincial government.
“Small ‘popcorn’ or ‘pop-up’ political parties are unable to properly function within the environment of the provincial legislature,” said the party’s chief whip, Dr Imran Keeka, in a statement.
“A look at the performance of these parties during the last five years exposes their inability to perform properly by attending all committee meetings and contributing meaningfully towards all law-making processes. Voting for them is to toy with your vote.”
Keeka said without even looking at portfolio committee and legislature sitting attendance registers, the contributions of such parties are obvious.
“If they cannot or do not attend to basic requirements as members of the legislature, they certainly cannot and do not represent voters, who should – at the very least – have access to records to see who raises their concerns where and when it matters.”
Keeka said it was only the DA that had been able to hold the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal to account. “The choice has never been simpler. Only a DA-led government has shown that accountability is a priority in any legislature.”
