What we stand for
The Truth and Solidarity Movement is built on a simple idea: the rights and liberties of the individual are not a gift from government, and no election result puts anyone above the law. These are the principles set out in the Movement's national manifesto.
1. The rights of the individual
The fundamental rights and liberties of the individual are untouchable and inalienable. Life itself is the foundation on which freedom, justice and peace are built. Everything else in this document follows from that.
2. Dignity and personal safety
No person should be subjected to torture, or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Every person is entitled to personal liberty and to be safe — from other people, and from the state.
3. Government that answers to the law
Every act and decision of government should be open to review by the courts. No office and no position should place a person beyond the reach of the law. Winning an election confers power to act within the rules — never power over them.
In a municipality this is not abstract. It is the difference between a tender that can be challenged and one that cannot, and between an official who must give you reasons for a decision and one who can simply refuse you.
4. Freedom of thought and expression
Every person has the right to hold opinions and to express them, exercised in a way that does not damage national unity and integrity.
5. Privacy and family life
Private life, family life and personal correspondence should be protected from arbitrary interference.
6. Education
Education under proper state supervision, with teaching available in Xhosa, Zulu, Afrikaans or English.
7. The right to organise and demonstrate
The right to gather, organise and demonstrate is protected, provided it is not turned against the fundamental principles set out here.
8. Women and children
Firm opposition to discrimination against women, and to the abuse of women and children.
9. A free press, and freedom of belief
Resistance to censorship of the media, alongside clear and enforced standards of press ethics. Freedom of conscience, religion and belief, protected from suppression.
These principles are drawn from the Truth and Solidarity Movement's national manifesto. Where the national Movement and this Gauteng page differ in wording, the national manifesto is the authoritative text.
Principles are not enough on their own
Any party can publish a list of values. What decides whether your street gets fixed is whether enough residents know how the system works well enough to use it — which office owns the problem, how to log it so it cannot be lost, and when to escalate.
That is why we put a free, deliberately nonpartisan course on this site. It does not tell you who to vote for. It tells you how the machine works, so you can hold whoever wins to account — including us.