Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC)

Founded: 2016.

The Democratic Liberal Congress is a South African party founded in June 2016 by Patrick Pillay after he left the Minority Front. Its 2019 election manifesto opposes expropriation of land without compensation and affirmative action, calls for austerity and less red tape for business, and commits to public health care and no-fee schools. The party contested the 2019 and 2024 national elections without winning a seat and is contesting the 2026 local government elections in KwaZulu-Natal.

Official website: https://dlc.org.za/

Not yet reviewed by a human. These positions were placed by reading the sources below; each one links to the document it came from.

9 of 15 axes have a cited position. Axes without a published position are marked as such and are never scored.

Positions

Economy: state or market — +1.00

State-led: the state owns or directs key industries, sets prices and plans investment.Market-led: private ownership, deregulation, lower taxes and a smaller state.

Leaning towards: market-led: private ownership, deregulation, lower taxes and a smaller state.

The DLC supports the reduction in size of the bloated Cabinet, the cutting down of wasteful expenditure on splashy lunches and unnecessary International travels by Ministers. National Treasury needs to tighten its belt and implement firm austerity measures in all spheres of government.

2019 Election Manifesto , Austerity measures (manifesto, 2019-02-08; accessed 2026-10-18)

Land reform and expropriation — +1.50

Expropriation without compensation and state custodianship of land.Strong property rights; redistribution only through willing-buyer/willing-seller and the courts.

Leaning towards: strong property rights; redistribution only through willing-buyer/willing-seller and the courts.

The willing buyer, willing seller principle must prevail. Expropriation without compensation would undermine private property rights, and denying citizens the right to private property.

2019 Election Manifesto , Land expropriation without compensation (manifesto, 2019-02-08; accessed 2026-10-18)

BEE and race-based redress — +1.50

Race-based redress expanded: BEE, employment equity and ownership targets enforced.Race-based redress phased out or replaced by non-racial, class-based or need-based measures.

Leaning towards: race-based redress phased out or replaced by non-racial, class-based or need-based measures.

Affirmative action is not achieving its desired results; hence it is paramount that Affirmative action be scrapped and people be employed on merit.

2019 Election Manifesto , Affirmative action (manifesto, 2019-02-08; accessed 2026-10-18)

Labour market — No published position found

No published position found. This axis does not count towards the match.

Healthcare and NHI — -1.00

Universal public health care: a publicly funded and publicly provided National Health Insurance with a smaller private sector.Private provision: medical schemes and market competition carry most of the system, with a smaller public role.

Leaning towards: universal public health care: a publicly funded and publicly provided national health insurance with a smaller private sector.

The Government needs to employ these professional nurses and doctors which will ease the burden and congestion at healthcare facilities hence reducing the waiting period. Healthcare facilities should operate on a 24-hour basis. No patient should be turned away.

2019 Election Manifesto , Health care services (manifesto, 2019-02-08; accessed 2026-10-18)

Education — -1.00

State-directed schooling: a central curriculum, expanded free public education and tighter regulation of independent schools.Parental choice: independent schools, charter-type models and market mechanisms in education.

Leaning towards: state-directed schooling: a central curriculum, expanded free public education and tighter regulation of independent schools.

The DLC does not support the school’s evaluation process for government subsidies in respect of the Quintile rankings. Quintile rankings must be scrapped and there should be no fee schools.

2019 Election Manifesto , Basic education (manifesto, 2019-02-08; accessed 2026-10-18)

Crime and policing — -0.75

Enforcement-first: more police and soldiers on the streets, harsher sentences, fewer procedural limits on the state.Prevention-first: community policing, restorative justice, and civil-liberties safeguards.

Leaning towards: enforcement-first: more police and soldiers on the streets, harsher sentences, fewer procedural limits on the state.

Additional police officers, reliable police vehicles, satellite police stations and effective visible policing are tools required to fight crime. Community Policing Forums must be empowered with the necessary tools and resources for effective sector policing.

2019 Election Manifesto , Crime (manifesto, 2019-02-08; accessed 2026-10-18)

Immigration — No published position found

No published position found. This axis does not count towards the match.

Energy and climate — -0.75

Rapid decarbonisation: coal phase-out, renewable generation and climate commitments prioritised.Energy security first: continued coal, gas or nuclear generation and a slower transition.

Leaning towards: rapid decarbonisation: coal phase-out, renewable generation and climate commitments prioritised.

The effects of global warming is clearly a reality and have badly affected South Africa with the increase of drought in most provinces. ... Global warming is a reality therefore is vital that South Africa takes a leading role in the World to reduce the risks of Global warming.

2019 Election Manifesto , Environment (manifesto, 2019-02-08; accessed 2026-10-18)

Federalism and devolution — No published position found

No published position found. This axis does not count towards the match.

Traditional leadership — No published position found

No published position found. This axis does not count towards the match.

Social values — +1.50

Conservative: law reflects religious or traditional morality, with narrower reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.Liberal: secular law, with expanded gender, reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.

Leaning towards: liberal: secular law, with expanded gender, reproductive and lgbtq+ rights.

The DLC supports the RIGHTS OF THE LGBT and denounce any form of discrimination within the political, social and economic sectors of society.

2019 Election Manifesto , LGBT (manifesto, 2019-02-08; accessed 2026-10-18)

Foreign policy — No published position found

No published position found. This axis does not count towards the match.

Anti-corruption and governance — -0.75

Expanded oversight: independent anti-corruption bodies with stronger investigative powers, asset forfeiture and procurement transparency.Smaller state machinery: fewer new bodies and regulations, with corruption handled through existing criminal law and the courts.

Leaning towards: expanded oversight: independent anti-corruption bodies with stronger investigative powers, asset forfeiture and procurement transparency.

Corruption can only be overcome when there are stringent monitoring and evaluation processes in place. The supply chain management must be a key focus area to root out corruption. The open tender process must not be superficial, hence officials sitting in the respective adjudication panel need to ensure that contractors are appointed on merit and not on bribes.

2019 Election Manifesto , Corruption (manifesto, 2019-02-08; accessed 2026-10-18)

Local service delivery — No published position found

No published position found. This axis does not count towards the match.