EFF, DA and ANC battle it out at the great debate

The EFF, DA and the ANC battled it out at the Great Hall at Wits University in an effort to win over the Joburg City Metro at the first of the Wits Great Debates. The three parties were represented by Floyd Shivambu, deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Herman Mashaba, mayoral candidate for the Democratic Alliance, and Goeffrey Makhubo, MMC of Finance for the City of Joburg and member of the African National Congress.

It was very clear from the beginning that it would be a disruptive affair as party members from the ANC and EFF began singing and dancing outside the hall. A few minutes into the debate when the audience became too rowdy they were warned to behave or the debate would be cancelled to which they quickly settled down and the debate resumed.

When asked what their parties would do for the residents of Joburg if elected into office, all three parties said that job creation was at the top of their lists with Mashaba citing that the main objective was to support small businesses who would be able to absorb unskilled labour into the market. “Small businesses will decrease unemployment. They must come on board because they will provide a job market for the youth,” he said.

@NewsNMT @FloydShivambu We will get rid of tenders and hire consultants. @randburg_sun @RoodepoortNorth pic.twitter.com/VF9tuJRRgi

— Gaahele M (@Treaka) July 14, 2016

“Government cannot do it alone, we need businesses and the youth to come on board so that we can tackle the issue together,” Makhubo said.

While Shivambu was clearly the better speaker, he too promised that his party would secure jobs for university graduates and pointed out that the number of informal settlements in Joburg was growing by the day.

@NewsNMT Q frm gallery: "what is a living wage"? @randburg_sun @RoodepoortNorth

— Gaahele M (@Treaka) July 14, 2016

“The EFF, if elected, will take over the city centre and bring people closer to amenities and in our current wards that we hold our ward councillors are compelled to meet with residents once a month to report on problems and provide feedback,” he added.

@NewsNMT Q:Hw will constitution be upheld? @randburg_sun ANC:Bring People closer to amenities 4 full access 2 servic pic.twitter.com/27YFtzR4Ei

— Gaahele M (@Treaka) July 14, 2016

Shivambu hit the ANC below the belt stating that come the 4 August, the police would have to be called as they knew that should the EFF win, ANC members would run riot.

Makhubo bit back that they admit, yes they may lose a ward or two, but come election day they would take the City and continue to run it.

@NewsNMT EFF will call saps to guard public property because the ANC will lose the elections. @FloydShivambu pic.twitter.com/16xvP8n15D

— Gaahele M (@Treaka) July 14, 2016

@NewsNMT @randburg_sun @RoodepoortNorth Debate @WitsUniversity Ends pic.twitter.com/ZJoRqU6ljB

— Gaahele M (@Treaka) July 14, 2016

A Wits student who was present at the debate, Yanga Damane, pointed out that despite his DA shirt he had to concede defeat to the EFF who not only had a bigger number of supporters present but were able to pack in the punches when it most counted. “The debate did not go our way as Floyd is a good speaker but that is not what will determine the results next month,”