De Lille sings party praises
1/18/2009 20:57:12-The Citizen (CEDRIC MBOYISA)-JOHANNESBURG - Ousted former President Thabo Mbeki “protected his clique from facing criminal prosecution related to the controversial multi-billion rand arms deal saga”.
JOHANNESBURG - Ousted former President Thabo Mbeki “protected his
clique from facing criminal prosecution related to the controversial
multi-billion rand arms deal saga”.
This is according to the Independent Democrats (ID) leader Patricia de Lille, who was speaking to The Citizen in a wide-ranging interview in Johannesburg yesterday.
“There are a lot more people involved in the arms deal,” she said.
She found it strange that the National Prosecuting Authority had only vigorously pursued ANC president Jacob Zuma and ANC national executive committee member Tony Yengeni.
De Lille was the leading whistle-blower on the corruption claims surrounding the arms deal.
But she was quick to point out to this paper that the ID was not only about lifting a lid on the alleged arms deal irregularities but about advancing the interests of the poor in the country.
“It’s the ID and the ANC which represent the poorest of the poor,” she said.
But she admitted it was a difficult task to upstage the ruling party in the rural areas, where most poor people live.
However, she pointed out that the four-year-old ID was the “only political party” able to beat the well-established parties, such as the ANC and the DA, in by-elections.
“In the past year, we have won 10 by-elections,” she told The Citizen.
She added: “It’s not the size that matters but your approach to politics.”
The ID has been able to distinctly distinguish itself from the DA, she said.
“The DA is fighting with everyone and has a patronising attitude. We don’t want to be lumped with the DA as the opposition”.
She accused the DA of having no interest in poor people but being primarily concerned with the interests of white people.
“It (DA) is out to destroy all opposition parties,” she charged.
The ideological differences notwithstanding, she said, opposition parties had to work together in dethroning the ANC in some provinces.
According to De Lille, there were three provinces (the Western Cape, the Northern Cape and Gauteng) up for grabs for the opposition parties.
“We (ID) are growing in leaps and bounds in Gauteng”.
She said the ID was aiming to get at least one million votes in the forthcoming general elections.
“We feel it is achievable (the one million target).”
Come the 2011 local elections, the opposition parties would have to compete under one banner or name against the ANC, she said.
“People don’t realise the importance of local government. That’s where everything is happening”.
The ID is currently in government in 26 municipalities.
De Lille said her party was not worried at all about its support base being eroded by the Congress of the People (COPE), an ANC breakaway grouping.
“COPE is just taking a slice of the ANC big cake.”
cedricm@citizen.co.za
This is according to the Independent Democrats (ID) leader Patricia de Lille, who was speaking to The Citizen in a wide-ranging interview in Johannesburg yesterday.
“There are a lot more people involved in the arms deal,” she said.
She found it strange that the National Prosecuting Authority had only vigorously pursued ANC president Jacob Zuma and ANC national executive committee member Tony Yengeni.
De Lille was the leading whistle-blower on the corruption claims surrounding the arms deal.
But she was quick to point out to this paper that the ID was not only about lifting a lid on the alleged arms deal irregularities but about advancing the interests of the poor in the country.
“It’s the ID and the ANC which represent the poorest of the poor,” she said.
But she admitted it was a difficult task to upstage the ruling party in the rural areas, where most poor people live.
However, she pointed out that the four-year-old ID was the “only political party” able to beat the well-established parties, such as the ANC and the DA, in by-elections.
“In the past year, we have won 10 by-elections,” she told The Citizen.
She added: “It’s not the size that matters but your approach to politics.”
The ID has been able to distinctly distinguish itself from the DA, she said.
“The DA is fighting with everyone and has a patronising attitude. We don’t want to be lumped with the DA as the opposition”.
She accused the DA of having no interest in poor people but being primarily concerned with the interests of white people.
“It (DA) is out to destroy all opposition parties,” she charged.
The ideological differences notwithstanding, she said, opposition parties had to work together in dethroning the ANC in some provinces.
According to De Lille, there were three provinces (the Western Cape, the Northern Cape and Gauteng) up for grabs for the opposition parties.
“We (ID) are growing in leaps and bounds in Gauteng”.
She said the ID was aiming to get at least one million votes in the forthcoming general elections.
“We feel it is achievable (the one million target).”
Come the 2011 local elections, the opposition parties would have to compete under one banner or name against the ANC, she said.
“People don’t realise the importance of local government. That’s where everything is happening”.
The ID is currently in government in 26 municipalities.
De Lille said her party was not worried at all about its support base being eroded by the Congress of the People (COPE), an ANC breakaway grouping.
“COPE is just taking a slice of the ANC big cake.”
cedricm@citizen.co.za
