OUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The CDA acknowledges God as the Sovereign Creator of the universe, who has entrusted to humanity the right and responsibility to rule over the affairs of the world.
 
We recognise that as a nation, we have lost our moral compass and the price we have paid, is despair, poverty, crime and the breakdown of the structures of society. We also recognise that it is the task of leadership to unashamedly and uncompromisingly provide this compass and direction for our nation.
 
The CDA therefore commits itself to install a God fearing leadership of integrity who will administer its task with wisdom. We commit ourselves to adhere to a moral worldview based upon the Word of God, and measure the interpretation of our policies against the prerequisites of biblical standards.

UNITED FOR CHANGE - TOGETHER WE CAN

The CDA believes that now more than ever, it is a time for solidarity. That, as a nation we need to unite and put the basic needs of society first, above our own personal and party agendas.
  
While other groups are constantly splitting and forming divisions within our nation, the Christian Democratic Alliance brings a fresh alternative and a new hope. As the coming together of different parties, we believe we reflect the aspirations of all South Africans – to be one nation – on a path together that will restore our country to it’s rightful position.
 
We commit to all of South Africa, to use the positions you give us wisely and not selfishly. We will encourage co-operative governance not petty opposition politics. We will do everything in our power to bring about a unity in purpose of governance.
 
A unity that says clearly and uncompromisingly – we put South Africa first!

OUR VALUES

The CDA is built upon the principle of integrity and service and an unwavering commitment to values.
 
We are determined to never compromise on these moral values and know that most South Africans seek with us, a return to the basic morality that forms the foundation of any healthy nation.
 
We have heard you and promise to give our all, for the true moral regeneration of our great land and believe with you, that in laying that foundation, we will all prosper and overcome the problems we face together today.
 
We have listened to the voice of our people and affirm that we will place the family as the cornerstone of this nation. We stand with you and say “Family Values are a priority”, and will honour your trust in voting for us by introducing policies that put these values as a priority.
 
We affirm that marriage by its only true definition is the union between a man and a woman and we remain committed to that stand.
 
We reject the current trends of legalising pornography, prostitution and similar socially destructive behaviour and recognise that it is our responsibility, for the benefit of all to fight against such legislation.
 
Every father, every mother, every child, shall receive our full support in building healthy families, based on those biblical principles the majority believe in, so that we may together, embark on building a nation we are proud of.

BASIC NEEDS FIRST

The CDA believes the primary role of government in an emerging nation is to invest social funds in meeting people’s basic needs such as housing, education, welfare, health etc.
 
This is not the time for empty promises and fancy speeches. Each day, that we play with grand schemes and failed policies our people are suffering.
 
There is an urgent need for basic service delivery and this must become our number one priority.
 
We cannot move forward as a nation to a greater vision while the basics are not in place. It is unacceptable that so many South Africans still do not have sanitation, running water, electricity or even a home to live in.
 
Our schooling system has let our children down. Our farmers live under siege of crime. Our industry functions under threat of electricity shortfalls. Our hospitals in many cases cannot even provide basic care.
 
We say so far and no further!  Let’s get the basics in place through well managed, uncorrupted service delivery. The CDA commits itself to a Rapid Basic Services Rollout Plan to restore essential order to our nation, and a firm foundation from which we can all reach for the dreams and aspirations we all share.

A NEW SYSTEM

What is needed in South Africa, is not just a replacement of government, but a replacement of the system of governance itself. To simply replace one master with another, while the new master practices the same principles will not bring about the change, we all, as common people are really looking for.
 
A quick glance at Parliamentary records will show clearly that almost all the parties contesting the elections are not proposing a new system, but simply fighting for control. Parliamentary records will show clearly that they voted in unison in bringing us the laws we live with today. The system under which we must now live.
 
Every major party, voted together for the education laws that crippled our schools. In unity they brought us legalised abortion. As one they said pornography is fine. In alliance they have brought us our banking laws, marriage laws, justice laws and every other law that has contributed to our suffering as a nation.
 
The CDA does not only propose simply a new government but a new system of government. And with it a real promise of a new South Africa.
 
We propose amongst others:

• A revamp of our banking laws to prevent monopolisation of funds, corrupt banking practices and prejudice against the average man in the street
• A complete new justice system that gives the victim the rights they deserve, full restitution for loss and courts that are accessible and friendly to all people
• An economic policy that rewards hard work and investment but provides complete protection against abuse of capital or labour
• An education system centred around the learner and not the government – a system that provides holistic values based preparation for the future
• A governance system that provides for self governance and self realisation at the lowest level, including full participation in budgeting and funding
• An attitude that says we recognise that we are entrusted with your money – it is not ours as government but yours as taxpayers and we are to serve you as the true owners of that money.

CRIME AND CORRUPTION

The filth that is crime and corruption will not be tolerated and we will take every step to remove it from our society and to protect law abiding citizens.
 
We acknowledge that we all pay the price for crime and corruption and therefore promise you today that we will stand with you in adopting zero tolerance toward any actions such as self enrichment, corruption, complicity to bribes and so forth in any state organ.
 
We ask you to take hands with us in removing every single corrupt official from office within two years. We ask you to join us in spreading the word that we will no longer accept corruption and that we will fully deal with anyone abusing your taxes in any way.
 
We recognise your voice in asking that criminals be treated as criminals and we promise that this will be so. Prison will once again be a place to be feared and respected.
 
Every prisoner will be made to work and out of their work earn a wage that will pay for their board and lodging as well as provide restitution to their victims. We will remove all luxuries from prisons until we have provided the basic needs of law abiding citizens.
 
To the women in South Africa we say this – we will deny bail to every rapist. You will not have to live in fear any more. We promise – we will protect you. You are the womb of our future and we will respect you and nurture you as we should.
 
To the murderer we say this – we WILL reintroduce the death penalty. No longer will you take the lives of innocent people and get away with it.
 
The poor and downtrodden – we have heard you. Our courts will be made more accessible. Justice will no longer depend on who has the most money. Our courts will be swift and judgements clear.
 
We salute the honest police men and women who despite the lack of resources continue to do their work and do it well. We recognise you and honour you. To you and the citizens of our country we commit this – you will receive every tool you need to ensure the safety of our people and you will get the remuneration and recognition you deserve for placing your lives at risk for us.

HOUSING

The CDA recognises Irene Grootboom as a woman who despite all the odds against her, and very little resources, took on the system and won, fighting for the housing rights of our homeless. We honour you, and in your memory, commit ourselves to fighting for a home for every man, woman and child.
 
Like you, we say enough is enough!
 
Irene Grootboom despite all her efforts, died living in a shack and we promise her and every South African without a home – we will not stop the fight until everyone is afforded the dignity of a roof over their head, a place to raise their family.
 
We recognise the poor state of many housing developments and also commit to providing the necessary infrastructure to support our communities. As part of our family values policy, we will ensure the proper provision of parks, youth facilities, sports amenities and the basic community services that form part of any strong society.
 
Our current ratepayers, who form the backbone of any local tax base, can rest assured that they will be respected for their contribution and their voices heard. We will ensure the proper maintenance of services paid for

OUR ECONOMY

South Africa has unfortunately fallen into the trap of many emerging nations and has focused on broad economic trends instead of policies that translate quicker to the average man in the street. Of what use is economic growth that benefits but a few? Of what use is a lower interest rate on a bond to all the South Africans who cannot even find a job?
 
The CDA proposes a total revitalisation of our economic policies, to not only provide the broad framework and macro economic principles but to embark on a programme of bringing economic benefit to the people on the ground.
 
We have an economic growth strategy for the fast tracking of job creation through industrial co-operatives, job and skill creation centres as well as agricultural projects, all labour based and with a view to providing interim employment and skills provision before workers enter the mainstream employment market.
 
We have a wealth of people, who could be contributing to our economy, many of them our youth, with an education but no prospect of employment. The CDA believes that this national asset is currently wasted and needs to be incorporated into our economic mainstream.
 
We need to become a nation that has an added value economy instead of being dominated by the raw material and retail industries. It is no longer acceptable that we export gold and import gold jewellery. It is economic foolishness that we export iron ore and import panels for our vehicles.
We have the resources and we have the people. It is government’s responsibility to ensure the skills are in place to use the wealth of our nation and the CDA commits to doing that.
 
The CDA recognises the contribution made by many core sectors of our economy, such as agriculture, in providing the essentials to any economy and we will provide the necessary economic support structures to ensure not only their continued economic contribution, but also to allow these sectors to move to higher levels of economic activity

By merging the principles of a free market economy with Biblical principles of care we will provide an economic framework that not only ensures our growth as a nation but creates the jobs and opportunities needed for the common man.

HEALTH CARE

The respect a government has for its people is reflected in the care it provides for those people. The CDA vows to make our care evident through a sustainable and excellent health care system.
 
We believe that our people deserve more. We will not accept that the provision of health care should be compromised in any way. We all share too many stories of our friends and family finding death at our clinics and hospitals, instead of life and hope. We all know one too many stories of a grandmother not even being able to get a simple pain tablet.
 
We as the CDA, together will all our people stand united and say that we demand more. In our moment of illness and weakness is when we need help the most and it is being denied us.
 
We dream of a country in which state hospitals are recognised as the best choice and we know you all dream with us. Today we ask that you also stand with us in fighting for this dream.
 
It will mean the replacement of all incompetent managers.
It will mean filling of vacancies where many staff are overworked and not appreciated.
It will mean training of staff where many times they are expected to do work they are not qualified for.
It will mean paying our medical staff competitive salaries to keep them in the country.
It will mean having a government not willing to compromise until we have achieved the level of excellence we strive for.
It will mean voting CDA

EDUCATION

The education we provide today will provide the future we live in tomorrow.
 
As the CDA we believe in tomorrow, in a unified South Africa, where we live in respect for each other and there is enough for all. For this reason, we are passionate about education.
In this we acknowledge those parents who undertake home schooling, and who sacrifice their time and resources to provide their children a firm foundation for tomorrow.
Education revolves around three pillars - the parents, the children, and the educators and we acknowledge all your demands and complaints as genuine. We hear the parents demanding a better education for their children.
 
We acknowledge the children who are frustrated in an education system that is denying them their dreams for a brighter future. And we recognise the pressure on educators who are abused within the system and no longer feel able to provide the service they wish to.
 
We can overcome. We like all of you have the courage to persist. Because we like you, have a dream. And we know, that together we can.
 
The CDA makes a promise to educators ;

• We will treat you with respect as the custodians of our children, our future
• We will pay you the salaries you deserve
• We will participate in your ongoing training so that you can do that which you love
• We will abolish the current OBE system and introduce a values based education methodology that allows you to do what you do best – teach

We promise our parents ;

• To recognise that you are ultimately responsible for your child’s education and therefore have the right to determine the place and manner in which your child is educated.
• That as taxpayers, you are paying for a service and should have a more direct say in the curriculum and the running and employment practices at your child’s school.
• That firm discipline and respect will once again be instilled in our schools for the benefit of all those who are serious about receiving their education

And we say to our pupils ;

• We will make sure you receive the education you deserve
• You will be protected in the school environment
• You will receive respect as our youth, our future leaders

WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY

We as the CDA understand that the first choice of every South African is to gain meaningful employment and provide for themselves and their families. That we as a nation, are not as so many nations in the world, nations of charity and social welfare. We are a proud people and seek only the right and the opportunity to be self sufficient.
 
Accordingly, the key CDA welfare strategy is to ensure that everyone has access to employment and self sufficiency. Unlike other parties who promise increased welfare because they do not believe they will actually create the jobs they promise, we pledge rather to make each South African independent of welfare.
 
We do recognise however that due to the mismanagement of the last fifteen years and the failure to addresses the imbalances created by apartheid, there are many that live in absolute poverty and that longer term strategies will not provide immediate relief.
 
To those of our people who still starve today we declare this – you will not be ignored. The CDA will without ceasing fight to ensure every South African is cared for.
 
To do this, we will have to review our current pensions as well as remove the discrimination between women’s and men’s pensions. We will have to provide new mechanisms for child grants, including schooling and food vouchers. We will scrap our current UIF system and introduce a grant system where no one is ignored or forgotten.
 
We also believe that to fully address social security and welfare, we have to recognise the churches, religious institutions and civic organisations that do so much for our poor in their own communities. The CDA understands that in order to ensure help reaches those who need it the most, we will need to work closely with the communities themselves as well as these institutions and provide them the necessary resources and assistance to continue their work and vital contribution to society.
 
The CDA leadership are men and women like you. Because of this we know you – we understand you. We have a unity of purpose with you and accordingly, we can truly say that together, all of us – are United for Change

OTHER KEY POLICY ISSUES

• The CDA is boldly Pro-Life. We will defend the life of every person including the most vulnerable, the most innocent - the unborn. We pledge that we will protect every life, no matter how old, how young, how poor – we value all equally. 
• Although our principles and policy foundation are Biblically grounded, our constituents are all South Africans who believe in basic values. We are totally committed to freedom of religion and choice and believe in separation of Church and State. Our only purpose is to bring about a government that cares for and provides justice for all. 
• In order to move from our position as an emerging economy to that of a first world economic leader, the CDA recognises the need to invest heavily in scientific and technological training and research and will ensure that this investment is made within the structure of a sustainable development programme. 
• We oppose the current sex education programmes that teach our children irresponsible sexual behaviour, which contributes to our ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic and therefore the deaths of many. We will re-instil a values based sex education programme and rather care for our youth than attempt to be politically correct with imported foreign ideas of promiscuity. 
• We acknowledge that many South Africans have received no restitution for past imbalances and the CDA stands firm on its policies of affording justice to all people. We do however believe that the current land redistribution programme has failed, both in empowering the intended beneficiaries as well as alienating those from which the land was acquired. We will therefore embark upon a holistic programme of redressing the wrongs of the past, that encompasses education and training opportunities, small business start-up funds, establishment of co—operative ventures, business mentorship programmes and more.
• Marginalised groups remain a problem in South Africa, and the CDA has committed itself to removing all forms of discrimination from society in terms of our disabled, elderly, and other people groups. We firmly believe that we need to rapidly move beyond special assistance programmes to such groups complete acceptance and integration into mainstream society.
• We cannot step beyond our responsibility as a major economic and social force in Africa, particularly our region. We therefore have a responsibility to the region and to our continent to contribute toward the stability and development of our neighbours. The CDA views the situation in Zimbabwe as unacceptable and the government of Robert Mugabe as illegitimate. We consider it a very real alternative, in conjunction with OAU Forces, to send our military, to establish order and the institution of legitimate government in Zimbabwe.
  

CONCLUSION

As we enter the final phase of deciding where to cast our vote in 2009, we, the people of South Africa need to be mindful of a few real facts. Despite millions of rands that have been pumped into services, education, healthcare and others, the provision of these services has only got worse – the statistics are clear.
 
Whilst we acknowledge the role the ANC played in the struggle we must be honest and say that a vote for the ANC has not meant a better life for all – only for very few.
While we acknowledge the role the DA has played in establishing “opposition politics”, opposition has not grown stronger, only louder and more negative driven by fear tactics.
We also acknowledge the role other parties have played in adding representation to the vibrant democracy we have in South Africa – but they have not contributed to real change.
More than this, we acknowledge that as a nation we are 15 years old. It is time to move on.
 
For the majority of South Africans who are tired of voting on past loyalties. For all of those who can no longer vote based on fear and negativity just to form an opposition. For all those just wanting to have trust in politicians again. There is now a real and viable option. A fresh and dynamic alternative for a new phase in our history.
 
The CDA, represents the coming together of Christian and values based parties and groups to offer South Africans an opportunity to stand as one. An opportunity to step past the race based and divisive politics of the past. An opportunity to commit to real change. A chance to vote for values you believe in.
 
We offer hope where there is desperation and fear.
 
We offer an opportunity to stand with us as we say,