THE DA has stepped up its pre-election campaign with a film highlighting its past and present pro-liberty and anti-apartheid philosophy.
At the "premiere" of its 12.47-minute film in Cape Town yesterday, DA leader Helen Zille and DA parliamentary head Lindiwe Mazibuko said concerns that the party would bring back apartheid had necessitated the making of the Know Your DA film.
Mazibuko said through polling and research, it had emerged that many South Africans knew little about the party's past.
"People who were volunteering this information were worried about white leadership, believing it would bring back apartheid," she said.
The film highlights the party's history from the Progressive Federal Party (PFP) to the current-day DA. Featuring prominently in the film was the 30-year-political career of PFP member Helen Suzman.
Zille, who is herself featured in the film, said Suzman had gone on to become a "card-carrying" member of the DA.
"That philosophy [Suzman's] is the founding golden thread, not the name of the party," she said.
She said the party had become more progressive and more representative over time.
The film is part of the party's pre-election campaign which was launched last month. Over the next two months, 30000 copies will be distributed to all DA branches and be available in nine languages.
"We are aiming to reach one million South Africans directly through house meetings [where the film would be shown]," said Mazibuko.
The film has also been posted on YouTube.
To date, the party had also distributed 800000 of 2.9 million pamphlets as well as conducted mostly door-to-door "conversations" with nearly 300000 people.
The ANC has lashed out at the DA, calling its campaign propaganda.
The ruling party has taken particular exception to the use of images of former president Nelson Mandela with Suzman.
Zille said she was not concerned about the furore.
"When there is controversy you break the sound barrier," she said.
Market analyst Chris Moerdyk said the DA had made "tremendous strides" through its campaigning model.
"Historically in South Africa, opposition parties based their election campaigns on actually just hammering at the governing party... I don't think that is very effective because you can't keep telling people what's wrong with the people in power."
He said the ANC's response to the campaign to date had been a "knee-jerk" reaction.
He added that the DA campaign leading up to next year's general elections was "well timed".
DA launches film to explain its role
THE DA has stepped up its pre-election campaign with a film highlighting its past and present pro-liberty and anti-apartheid philosophy.
At the "premiere" of its 12.47-minute film in Cape Town yesterday, DA leader Helen Zille and DA parliamentary head Lindiwe Mazibuko said concerns that the party would bring back apartheid had necessitated the making of the Know Your DA film.
Mazibuko said through polling and research, it had emerged that many South Africans knew little about the party's past.
"People who were volunteering this information were worried about white leadership, believing it would bring back apartheid," she said.
The film highlights the party's history from the Progressive Federal Party (PFP) to the current-day DA. Featuring prominently in the film was the 30-year-political career of PFP member Helen Suzman.
Zille, who is herself featured in the film, said Suzman had gone on to become a "card-carrying" member of the DA.
"That philosophy [Suzman's] is the founding golden thread, not the name of the party," she said.
She said the party had become more progressive and more representative over time.
The film is part of the party's pre-election campaign which was launched last month. Over the next two months, 30000 copies will be distributed to all DA branches and be available in nine languages.
"We are aiming to reach one million South Africans directly through house meetings [where the film would be shown]," said Mazibuko.
The film has also been posted on YouTube.
To date, the party had also distributed 800000 of 2.9 million pamphlets as well as conducted mostly door-to-door "conversations" with nearly 300000 people.
The ANC has lashed out at the DA, calling its campaign propaganda.
The ruling party has taken particular exception to the use of images of former president Nelson Mandela with Suzman.
Zille said she was not concerned about the furore.
"When there is controversy you break the sound barrier," she said.
Market analyst Chris Moerdyk said the DA had made "tremendous strides" through its campaigning model.
"Historically in South Africa, opposition parties based their election campaigns on actually just hammering at the governing party... I don't think that is very effective because you can't keep telling people what's wrong with the people in power."
He said the ANC's response to the campaign to date had been a "knee-jerk" reaction.
He added that the DA campaign leading up to next year's general elections was "well timed".
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