May 2006
May 2006 press releases are stored here.
Independent Democrats honours the memory of Strini Moodley
2006-05-02. Released by the President of the Independent Democrats, Patricia de Lille – 084 777 2065.
ID condemn N2 Gateway invasion, appeals to Zille and Mfeketo
2006-05-02. ID Metro Leader, Simon Grindrod, has today condemned the invasion of empty units at the N2 Gateway housing project over the weekend and strongly appealed to Mayor Zille and former Mayor Mfeketo to work together to speedily resolve the issue.
De Lille outlines ID's social democratic ideology and strategy to take on the ANC in 2009
2006-05-02. Following a National Executive Committee meeting in Johannesburg over the long weekend, ID President Patricia de Lille will address the media at a press conference at 11H00, on Wednesday 3 May in the ID Caucus Room (Marks Building in Parliament).
ID congratulates first Municipal Mayor
2006-05-04. The Independent Democrats has extended its congratulations to Mr David Jenner, whose inauguration as the Mayor of the Matzikama Municipality will be held today.
ID writes to Zille with proposal for a stable city government in Cape Town
2006-05-05. ID WRITES TO ZILLE WITH PROPOSAL FOR A STABLE CITY GOVERNMENT IN CAPE TOWN.
De Lille before Constitutional Court tomorrow
2006-05-08. The case between the President of the Independent Democrats, Patricia de Lille, Charlene Smith, New Africa Publisher, and three HIV-positive applicants will be heard in the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg tomorrow 9 May, 2006.
ID extends condolences
2006-05-08. Patricia de Lille, the President of the Independent Democrats, has extended her heartfelt condolences to the Sigcau family, the ANC and Government, after the passing of Stella Sigcau, the Minister of Public Works.
‘Trial highlights… issues that involve all South Africans,’ says De Lille
2006-05-08. The Independent Democrats calls on all South Africans to respect the verdict of the Johannesburg High Court today. Judge Willem Van der Merwe showed that he had all the relevant facts before him to make an informed decision, whilst the general public only received sections of information via the media. His Judgement that the former Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, is not guilty must be respected.
ID Parliamentary STATEMENT ON DA VISIT TO PRES. MBEKI’S PRIVATE RESIDENCE
2006-05-11. The DA’s visit to the Mbekis’ retirement residence was totally out of order and was motivated by nothing more than naked racism.
ID SLAMS IKHWEZI CONTRACTS AND WANTS INVESTIGATION
2006-05-19. The Independent Democrats totally condemn the amendment of contracts for members of the City Ikhwezi management team which would allow them to resign within 60 days of the first new Council with multi-million rand payouts.
ID TO TABLE QUESTIONS OVER HASSIEM CITY PROPERTY DEALS
2006-05-19. Councillor Hassiem currently sits in the DA coalition government as the Mayco member for Planning and Economic Development, but served on the same committee as an ordinary Councillor during the DA administration between 2000 and 2003. He sat on the same committee during the ANC administration which was recently ousted by the DA led coalition.
YiD slams ANCYL for ‘misplaced rhetoric’
2006-05-19. ‘This is not the kind of criticism we need from a prominent youth organisation,’ said spokesperson for the YiD, Riaan April.
ID CALLS ON PREMIER TO REQUEST SANDF ASSISTANCE IN CITY TAXI WAR
2006-05-19. It is clear that the SAPS are overstretched and require urgent support. The Army is available and must be called upon to help control the violence. The Premier has the authority to call for the Army to be deployed.
ID CITY LEADER WRITES TO PREMIER URGENTLY REQUESTING MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO TACKLE CITY VIOLENCE
2006-05-19. ‘It is clear that the SAPS is overstretched and requires urgent support,’ said Mr Grindrod. ‘We cannot allow another innocent life to be lost in the crossfire. Every day that the Western Cape administration drags its heels results in more lives lost. Our people deserve the protection of the State. It is their constitutional right. Now is the time to send in the troops.
‘DA carrying out political demarcation at the expense of the poor,’ says ID City Leader Simon Grindrod
2006-05-19. There are currently 1.48 million registered voters in the city. With 21 sub-councils the average number of voters per sub-council should be 70 800 registered voters. The latter figure is referred to as the ‘mean’.
ID WANTS ATHLONE POWER STATION ON LINE URGENTLY
2006-05-19. The ID Caucus in the City Council will call for an urgent Sitting of the full Council to authorize and debate activating Athlone power station if necessary.
De Lille: young filmmakers need funds for trip to Cannes
2006-05-19. The filmmakers have been selected for the top 10 finalists from a total of 3500 entries from around the world. It is the first time in 10 years that a South African film has been a finalist for this award and, if they win the category, it would be a first for South Africa. A member of the film crew contacted ID MP Avril Harding to ask for assistance in raising funds for their trip to Cannes in France, where the winners will be announced on 28 May. The Director, Robin Kleinsmidt, and the lead actor, Keenan Arrison visited ID President Patricia de Lille today.
ID respects judgment, but believes court action could have been avoided Statement by ID Cape Town Caucus Leader, Cllr Simon Grindrod
2006-05-19. ‘The ID have always believed that the City Council were not qualified to revoke the contract and voted to send the matter to the High Court for a decision. We certainly respect that judgement.
ID motion to suspend winter evictions
2006-05-23. ‘This is the coldest winter in years and it would be inhumane to evict people from their homes,’ said Mr Grindrod. ‘We will bring the motion before Council at the soonest possible time and appeal to other parties to feel compassion for those who would otherwise be thrown out into the cold.’
ID launches clean-up campaign in Tafelsig
2006-05-23. The Independent Democrats today launched a clean-up campaign in Tafelsig. Mrs June Frans, the ID ward candidate for the Tafelsig by-election, will be coordinating the initiative, in which a team of citizens from the area is being paid by the Independent Democrats to clean up the litter that has clogged up the area’s streets and fields.
Released by Independent Democrats Congratulation Ernst van Dyk!
2006-05-23. Ernst has done South Africa proud, he has not only shown what South Africans are capable of, but more importantly what a person with a disability can do.Ernst has won the New York Marathon in record time and the Oita Marathon in Japan in the space of two weeks, and made history by becoming the first man to win the Boston Marathon five consecutive times.
Out of Pat's Pen: Politicians must resist dividing the poor
2006-05-25. Making my way from home to home in Tafelsig, I have come to realise that the by-election here is about far more than party politics. Rather, it is about people who have been neglected for too long by fat cat politicians, who worry more about where their next lump sum is going to come from, than the needs of our people. And it is precisely because of this that Cheval Arendse, who won Ward 82 on the back of the Independent Democrats, returned to the DA he left only a short time before. Arendse told me personally that his reason for leaving the DA was that they were racist and they had no place for coloured people.
ID President meets residents on disconnections and evictions, in the wake of DA apology
2006-05-29. Patricia de Lille, the President of the Independent Democrats, will address members of the public at Megan Field in Tafelsig tomorrow, Sunday 28 May, at 16H00. In the meeting, which in the event of rain will be relocated to the community centre nearby, Ms De Lille will give Tafelsig residents advice on how to deal with the Final Notices from Potgieter and Vennoete, the attorneys representing the City of Cape Town. The letters warn that if electricity and water arrears are not forthcoming, the City will disconnect the services.
Council will vote to abandon Mayco system tomorrow
2006-05-30. Following two previous attempts, the Independent Democrats motion to change the system of Government in the City of Cape Town will be debated in a full sitting of Council tomorrow.
