DA celebrates 25th anniversary handing out blankets to pensioners in Hanover Park
CAPE TOWN -The Democratic Alliance (DA) celebrated its 25th anniversary on Tuesday by handing out blankets to pensioners in Hanover Park.
DA leader John Steenhuisen joined Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and other party officials to celebrate by sharing its birthday cake with the residents of Hanover Cottages.
Pensioners living at Hanover Cottages, in Hanover Park, were treated to warm blankets and a slice of birthday cake as the DA celebrated its 25th birthday.
Steenhuisen says the party has embarked on a national blanket drive to celebrate its anniversary.
"We've embarked on a national blanket drive where we will be taking blankets to underprivileged communities, pensioner and to places where people need a bit of winter warmth, and it's our way of saying thank you to the South Africans who supported us, who voted for us and allowed us to be in a position where we can celebrate 25 years."
Hill-Lewis says he's proud of the party and happy to be part of its birthday celebrations.
"There really is only one party with a real sense of pride that we have devoted ourselves to the service of the public of South Africa, and that we have a lot to show for it. We govern with integrity, we respect people's money. We look after it we do not steal it."
Hill-Lewis says he looks forward to what lies ahead for the party in the next 25 years.
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Daily Maverick
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But on Monday night, that sense of safety was shaken when Iran launched a volley of ballistic missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar — the largest American military installation in the Middle East — in retaliation for recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Most missiles were intercepted by defence systems, but at least one is believed to have reached its target. No casualties or injuries were reported and airspace over Qatar was temporarily closed before reopening a few hours later. Derry said the first signs of concern came via embassy alerts on social media. 'The American Embassy posted something about sheltering at home. I wasn't sure what they meant at first,' she said. 'Then more posts started coming in — things like how much water you need per person in an emergency.' That evening, while her husband Mark was attending a church council meeting about 30 minutes away, Debbie went for a walk. It was 37°C — cooler by Qatar standards — and she needed fresh air. 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Lack of transparency Dr Tobias Doyer, the CEO of Grain SA, said they and stakeholders from across the grain industry had persistently engaged with the government about the lack of transparency, stakeholder consultation and cost implications associated with Leaf Services' proposed role in grading inspections. 'We commend the minister and the department for the significant progress made towards a regulatory environment that is principled, transparent and accountable,' said Doyer. 'These strides reflect a growing commitment to regulatory stewardship that aligns with global best practices.' He said, 'Formal objections were submitted, legal advice pursued, and a direct appeal was made to the ministry in 2024 to revoke the appointment of Leaf Services.' Experts from Grain SA calculated that if the R4-per-tonne fee proposed by Leaf Services were implemented in 2016 as intended, it would have cost members more than R600-million. 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