DA premier candidate for KZN, Chris Pappas.
The DA candidate for premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Chris Pappas, says the core of his government would be building a capable state.
Pappas was speaking at the event organised by the party on Tuesday morning titled “Ready to Govern Summit”. He outlined what his priorities would be should the DA prevail in the elections.
The event was attended by the party’s leader from the Western Cape. The DA governs that province and holds it up as an example of good governance. Pappas is the mayor of uMngeni Municipality which has been credited with improved performance since he took over.
The premier candidate said, “Central to all our initiatives is the establishment of a capable and ethical state. This requires not just policies and programmes but a cultural shift within our governance structures to prioritise transparency, accountability, and service delivery above all. It means an end to cadre deployment, the centralised all powerful state.
“By adopting best practices from regions like the Western Cape, uMngeni, and around the world, where governance has been marked by efficiency and integrity, we can transform the way KwaZulu-Natal is governed.
“Our blueprint is designed to achieve quick wins – immediate, visible improvements that restore faith in governance – while also laying the foundation for long-term, sustainable development,” said Pappas.
The DA leader said at the heart of their vision are the pillars of good governance: accountability, transparency, responsiveness, and inclusivity.
“These principles guide every initiative, policy and programme we propose, ensuring that the governance of KwaZulu-Natal is not only effective but also equitable and just.”
He said the current government was besieged by crises – it had lost control and could not guarantee people’s safety to a point where “non-state actors are providing more security than the state”.
The Mercury