The Nine Independent Democrats Premier Candidates Responds to the DA's National Advertising Campaign attacking Patricia de Lille and the Independent Democrats
2004-03-16. Patricia de Lille is a charismatic leader who holds the foreground. But she is far from being a one-woman party. She is part of a ground swell of voters that are looking for a voice, because the official opposition has got the message all wrong.
It has been brought to the attention of the Independent Democrats that
the DA has shifted its campaign away from attacking the ANC government
to focus on the Independent Democrats. The DA has launched this
campaign in a desperate attempt to win back the substantial ground they
have lost amongst their core constituency to the Independent
Democrats.
A healthy democracy requires a healthy opposition. The official opposition has failed miserably to perform this function. Their negative leadership style and campaign is well documented as dividing and not building our nation. The official opposition is not acceptable to the vast majority of South Africans and this will not change. As long as the DA remains the official opposition convincing voters to vote strategically, we will have an opposition with bound feet. It is the intention of the Independent Democrats to release the opposition from these bonds and allow our democracy to flourish.
They have failed as an opposition party all round. In a desperate quest for votes they have sacrificed their principles to form coalitions with just about every other political party no matter how incompatible. They continue to campaign on empty promises when they know they will never be called upon to deliver on any of them, because they will not be in power.
The Independent Democrats by contrast is born out of the new South Africa and is not a hangover from apartheid. We have a positive leader who appeals to voters from all walks of life. Patricia de Lille has taken the government to court several times and won. The DA has never taken the government to court. Patricia has a track record of having made a real difference to people's lives, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS and Human Rights.
We are not yet the official opposition, but we are well on our way to being an effective opposition.
We are independent democrats. Not black, not white, just South African.
ENDS
Statement issued by all nine Independent Democrats premier candidates.
Adv. Lennit Max - Western Cape
Graham Mackenzie - KZN
Mabandla Makwetu - Eastern Cape Province
Mangkaiseng Maria Moeng - Free State
Esau Damoense - Northern Cape Province
Prof. Themba Sono - Gauteng
Mohamed Suliman - Mpumalanga
Joseph Ngobeni - Limpopo Province
Eric Adolph - North West Province
For more information, contact Marlon Kruger on 083 212 2109.
A healthy democracy requires a healthy opposition. The official opposition has failed miserably to perform this function. Their negative leadership style and campaign is well documented as dividing and not building our nation. The official opposition is not acceptable to the vast majority of South Africans and this will not change. As long as the DA remains the official opposition convincing voters to vote strategically, we will have an opposition with bound feet. It is the intention of the Independent Democrats to release the opposition from these bonds and allow our democracy to flourish.
They have failed as an opposition party all round. In a desperate quest for votes they have sacrificed their principles to form coalitions with just about every other political party no matter how incompatible. They continue to campaign on empty promises when they know they will never be called upon to deliver on any of them, because they will not be in power.
The Independent Democrats by contrast is born out of the new South Africa and is not a hangover from apartheid. We have a positive leader who appeals to voters from all walks of life. Patricia de Lille has taken the government to court several times and won. The DA has never taken the government to court. Patricia has a track record of having made a real difference to people's lives, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS and Human Rights.
We are not yet the official opposition, but we are well on our way to being an effective opposition.
We are independent democrats. Not black, not white, just South African.
ENDS
Statement issued by all nine Independent Democrats premier candidates.
Adv. Lennit Max - Western Cape
Graham Mackenzie - KZN
Mabandla Makwetu - Eastern Cape Province
Mangkaiseng Maria Moeng - Free State
Esau Damoense - Northern Cape Province
Prof. Themba Sono - Gauteng
Mohamed Suliman - Mpumalanga
Joseph Ngobeni - Limpopo Province
Eric Adolph - North West Province
For more information, contact Marlon Kruger on 083 212 2109.
