Armed with whistles and flags, hundreds of people from across the Cape attended the provincial launch of the Independent Democrats (ID) in Cape Town today.  The Western Cape is the first province to elect its executive committee since the ID's national launch earlier this year.  Members traveled from as far as Beaufort West, Plettenberg Bay and Vredendal to vote in the region's leadership committee members.

"Today we will be electing the people who will lead the battle in securing the Western Cape for the Independent Democrats in the 2004 elections.  They are the people that will be taking politics back to the people of the Western Cape as we get back to basics, said ID Leader Patricia de Lille.  Amongst the proposed candidates for Provincial Chairperson is former Police Commissioner Lennit Max, who is currently the ID Secretary for Safety and Security.  "Each member has a whistle which will be blown to send a message that the Independent Democrats will continue to blow the whistle on corruption and crime in the Western Cape," de Lille said.

Since the Independent Democrats launched in June 2003 the party has been experiencing rapid growth and phenomenal support in terms of registered members, moral support and well wishes from around the country.  Within 5 months close on 25 000 people have joined the party as registered members who cut across traditional, racial and cultural divides.  The Independent Democrats has representation in each province, with the Western Cape boasting more than 5000 registered members.

De Lille who played an instrumental role in the exposure of corruption in the controversial multimillion rand arms deal, has built the party on the tradition of fierce independence and tireless campaigning for issues of justice and government accountability.