Press Releases 2007
Up one levelPress releases from 2007 are stored here.
ID National Congress adopts 5 Resolutions
08-07- 2007, 15H00, One calling for an complete overhaul of the ‘Government’s failed HIV/Aids prevention strategy’
ID Policy Conference 2007
10-06-2007 The ID has met over the past two days to review, refine and consolidate our policy agenda.
ID National Congress – Tsamai and Grindrod are ID Deputy-Presidents
08-07-2007, 14h30 Delegates at the ID National Congress, held this weekend at the University of the Western Cape, have this afternoon elected their leaders for the next four years.
Patricia de Lille’s National Congress speech - ‘Bridging the Divides – the State of our Nation, the State of our Party’
07-07- 2007,12H45, ID Leader focuses on phenomenal ID growth, economic freedom for the poor, the ANC’s ‘succession conference’, the ID’s belief that the President should be elected at the ballot box, crime, Government’s failure to implement policies, the Government’s handling of the public servant’s strike and floor-crossing.
ID National Congress – resolutions up for adoption Calls for a complete overhaul of the ‘Government’s failed HIV/Aids prevention strategy
05/07/2007, 14H30 At least five resolutions will be put forward for adoption at the ID National Congress this weekend in the Main Hall of the University of the Western Cape.
De Lille/Greyling - ID letter to Speaker urges action on ‘5-months late’ Crime Summit
11H30, 5 July 2007 ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling has delivered a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete, urging her to get ‘Parliament to convene a Summit on the issues of Crime, Poverty and Transformation,’ as instructed by the President 5 months ago.
De Lille on latest crime statistic- 'Parliament has failed the nation'
03-07-2007, 15H30 ID President Patricia de lille says the Government's latest crime statistics 'are disappointing
De Lille to speak at ID National Congress at UWC
03-07-2007, 15H00 ID President Patricia de Lille will be delievering the Leader's Address at the ID National Congress at the University of the Western Cape this weekend. Open to the media at 11H30 Saturday, 14H00 Sunday.
New ID Councillor stabbed in the cheek by suspected thief
02-07-2007, 14H00 Conrad Poole, the recent ID victor of a by-election in Amstelhof, Paarl, has been stabbed in the cheek with a screwdriver after chasing a cell phone thief through the streets of his ward.
ID takes Ward 27 with ‘compassion, care and service to the community’
27-06-2007, 23H30 The Independent Democrats has taken Amstelhof, in the Drakenstein Municipality (Ward 27), away from the ANC in a by-election held there today.
Suspected Tik dealer targeted by ID Youth Day celebration
15-06-2007 The Independent Democrats will lead a road show tomorrow to the house of a suspected Tik dealer in Amstelhof in Paarl to demand that he ‘redirect his income to an honest business that will benefit the community, rather than destroy its children.’
ID wishes Leon well for the future
03-05- 2007. ID President Patricia de Lille today sent a letter to the Democratic Alliance wishing outgoing national leader Tony Leon ‘all the best in his future endeavours.’
Gore – ‘hiring of Msimang sends wrong message to public service employees’
03-05-2007. ‘While the Minister of Home Affairs says her new Director-General, Mavuso Msimang, “has a reputation as a hands-on manager”, the Independent Democrats believes this is a most unfortunate description,’ says Vincent Gore, the ID spokesperson on the department.
Greyling – ‘ID does not have time for Botha’s infantile politics’
03-05-2007. Lance Greyling, the ID spokesperson for environmental affairs, says the response of the DA’s provincial leader for the Western Cape, Theuns Botha, to comments made by ID President Patricia de Lille in Mossel Bay ‘is a case of infantile politics.
Moseneke’s recommendations for MP salary increases has ID’s support, says De Lille
02-05-2007. A caucus meeting attended by ID Members of Parliament today decided to support all the recommendations of the Moseneke Commission regarding MP salary increases.
WORKER’S DAY 01st May 2007 - CELEBRATING THE SAFETY RIGHTS OF WORKERS
01-05-2007. As we take time today to commemorate Worker’s Day as the ID we CHOOSE to FOCUS on the RIGHTS of the worker in the workplace in terms of Health and Safety, beyond the fall of our ex-political leaders that sacrificed their lives to ensure our Democracy. There are workers DAILY in our Country that PAY a costly price for their safety.
De Lille thanks Pro Sano whistleblower
01-05-2007. ID President Patricia de Lille says she is ‘happy’ that Pro Sano medical aid has been placed under curatorship.
ID congratulates Zille
06-05-2007. ID President Patricia de Lille has extended her congratulations to Helen Zille, the new national leader of the DA.
ID introduces new CEO
07-05-2007. The Independent Democrats will hold a press conference in its caucus room on the ground floor of the Marks Building tomorrow at midday.
ID introduces new CEO
08-05-2007. After requests from journalists, the ID has postphoned its press conference until 15H00 today.
BIOGRAPHY: Ferlon Charles Christians, the newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Independent Democrats
08-05-2007. Born in Bonteheuwel in 1965, Ferlon Charles Christians is a Capetonian with impressive work record that includes a number of managerial positions.
Greyling –‘Pandor’s move deplorable’
13-05-2007 ‘The ID finds it deplorable that the education department wants to shift responsibility for learner performance onto the shoulders of school governing bodies,’ says Lance Greyling, the ID spokesperson for education.
De Lille – civil servants deserve more than 6%
14-05-2007 ID President Patricia de Lille has extended her support to South Africa’s teachers, nurses and police in their efforts to get government to give them ‘a decent salary.
STATEMENT - GRINDROD HAS KEPT HIS ELECTION SALARY DEDUCTION PROMISE
14-05-2007 This morning’s story in the Cape Times served to create confusion where there is none.
Members Statement delivered by ID Chief Whip and spokesperson on environmental affairs
15-05-2007 This is a copy of the Members Statement delivered by ID Chief Whip and spokesperson on environmental affairs in the House today:
ID President Patricia De Lille to address public meeting in Riviersonderend ahead of by-election next week
16-05-2007 Independent Democrats National Leader Patricia De Lille is to address the Riviersonderend community at the town’s Community Hall on Thursday 17, May at 19h30.
ID paints Riviersonderend orange tomorrow
18-05-2007 The Independent Democrats will be jolling through the streets of Riviersonderend with the Western Cape’s DJ Elbees on Saturday 19 May.
De Lille calls on government to regulate MXIT and Internet blogging
20-05-2007 ID President Patricia de Lille has called on Government to look into ‘urgently implementing legislation that will regulate MXIT and Internet blogging, where members of the public can with impunity slander and defame individuals and organisations they do not like.’
ID press conference today on ‘high tariffs and rates in Cape Town’
22-05-2007 The ID caucus in the City of Cape Town will hold a press conference today at 13H00 to outline its opposition to the city’s Draft Budget, due to come before full council on Wednesday, 30 May 2007.
Disruption of international rugby match by people in wheelchairs
22-05-2007 Vincent Gore, the Independent Democrats’ spokesperson on disabilities, will today announce the disruption of an international rugby match sometime in the next six weeks by people in wheelchairs.
ID SPEECH BFORE BUDGET VOTE FOR SPORTS AND RECREATION by ID MP Vincent Gore
22-05-2007 Madam Speaker, Hon members, the independent Democrats would like to support the Sports and Recreation budget vote for 2007. We believe that the department under the Minister needs support in its efforts to transform South African sport. In this regard we would like to pay particular credit to the Minister for his efforts to get the Sports Amendment Bill through this house last week.
De Lille – ‘I am a living example of fighting for freedom of speech’
22-05-2007 ID President Patricia de Lille has reiterated her statement that cellphone instant-messaging service MXit is destroying relationships and allowing grown men to lure young boys and girls into traps.
Greyling - 'Helen Zille's DA has double standards'
23-05-2ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling says DA national leader Helen Zille ‘has double double standards because she is ignoring even the most infantile political principles at the expense of the poor.’007
De Lille – 1000% increase for ID in Riviersonderend
24-05-2007 The Independent Democrats has experienced an unprecedented 1000% increase in its voter base in the by-election in Riviersonderend.
Independent Democrats’ Northern Cape Provincial Executive Conference
25-05-2007 ID President Patricia De Lille will deliver a speech at the conference at 10h15 tomorrow. All members of the media are invited to attend.
ID TO HAND AUTHORITIES EVIDENCE OF CASH OFFERS BEING MADE TO PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES OF SEVERAL POLITICAL PARTIES TO WALK OVER TO THE NEW PEOPLE’S PARTY IN SEPTEMBER
27-05-2007 Following several of our public representatives coming forward to disclose to the ID that they together with senior members of the DA, ANC and other parties have been approached with cash offers and financial assistance in return for walking to a new political entity in September, we have decided to inform the public about this.
De Lille in Egypt
28-05-2007 ID President Patricia de Lille is in Egypt to attend The Second High Level Meeting for the Arab-African Initiative for the Millennium Development Goals.
Member’s Statement delivered by ID MP Florence Batyi
29-05-2007 This is a copy of the Member’s Statement delivered by ID MP Florence Batyi in the House today. In it Ms Batyi calls on Government to deal with the ‘confusion and inadequacies in the courts’ and to start implementing the 1998 Maintenance Act properly.
Speech yesterday in Egypt at The Second High Level Meeting for the Arab-African Initiative for the Millennium Development Goals
30-05-2007 ID President Patricia de Lille delivered this speech yesterday in Egypt at The Second High Level Meeting for the Arab-African Initiative for the Millennium Development Goals.
Minerals and Energy Budget Vote Speech
30-05-2007 ID spokesperson on minerals and energy Lance Greyling delivered this Minerals and Energy Budget Vote Speech in the House today.
Avril Harding's response to a statement by the Minister of Public Service and Administration
30-05-2007 ID MP Avril Harding made this response in the House today to a statement by the Minister of Public Service and Administration on the public service wage negotiations.
ID’s Grindrod presses ahead with criminal/civil cases against blogger
31-05-2007 ‘Following news today that the slanderous SA Male Prostitute website has been shut down under the pretext that some form of legal deal has been made between my lawyers and the anonymous blogger, I wish to confirm the following,’ says Mr Simon Grindrod.
Opinion piece?
29-05-2007 (This is a copy of the Education Budget Vote Speech delivered by ID spokesperson on education, Lance Greyling, in Parliament today. In it Mr Greyling says ‘education in South Africa is still perpetuating many of our society’s divides’.)
ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling delivered this Parliamentary Budget Vote speech in the House today
01-06-2007 ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling delivered this Parliamentary Budget Vote speech in the House today. In it, Greyling says his first observation in the Chief Whip’s Forum was that ‘you can miss ten episodes and still know what is going on.’
Patricia de Lille - ‘they are tired of corruption, nepotism and tenders being given to ANC cronies’
03-06-2007 ID President Patricia de Lille was the keynote speaker at yet another ID provincial congress this weekend, this time in North West. Ms De Lille, who was welcomed on stage by traditional Tswana dancers, says the Independent Democrats ‘is going from strength to strength in the province’.
Cirota – we want to ‘protect the rights of Ms Tsamai and Mr Harding equally’
10-07-2007, 11H00, Mervyn Cirota, the Chairperson of the National Disciplinary Committee of the Independent Democrats, says he is ‘not going to discuss the details of the charges against Mr Harding.
Manyisa puts ID Gauteng firmly behind National vision and goal
11-07-2007, 16h30. Tinyiko Manyisa, the ID Chairperson for Gauteng, says ‘ID Gauteng is going to work very hard to establish solid structures on the ground in Gauteng, in order for the party to achieve its strategic goal of one million votes.
Patricia de Lille back to fisher people
22-07-2007, 19H00 ID President Patricia de Lille, accompanied by ID spokesperson on energy and environmental affairs, Lance Greyling, will be holding a series of public meetings with the fisher people in every coastal village of the West Coast from Monday until Friday this week.
President De Lille slams ‘violent police action against those who demand their constitutional rights’
24-07-2007, 09H00, ID President Patricia de Lille says yesterday’s service delivery protest in Kliptown, Soweto, ‘is just one of an increasing number of riots that should be a warning to Government that the people are losing patience.
De Lille – ‘Elvis’ passing a loss to the ID and our country’
24-07-2007, 12H00, ID President Patricia de Lille has described Elvis Mndebele, an ID Councillor in Mbombela Municipality in Mpumalanga, who passed away yesterday at noon, as ‘a man with a heart of gold.’
De Lille announces 300 jobs victory for West Coast fishing village
24-07-2007,15H45: 300 JOBS will be created in Saldanha Bay due to the intervention of the ID and its President, Patricia de Lille.
Independent Democrats Johannesburg slams ‘notorious and undemocratic Item 34’
27 -07-2007, 13H00 Mervyn Cirota, the ID Caucus Leader and National Chairperson of the party, has slammed ‘the ANC’s notorious Item 34, which makes provision for a majority of parties to speak for only a few seconds each in the council.
Greyling – ‘Criminal Assets Recovery Account cash should go to victims’
30-07-2007, 14H30, ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling says the disbursement of funds from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) ‘favours the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and South African Police Service (SAPS), at the expense of our most vulnerable victims of crime.
Patricia de Lille delivers opening address at Mouth Painter’s Exhibition in Cape Town
03-08- 2007,11H00, ID President Patricia de Lille will deliver the opening address at the Annual Quadpara Association of South Africa (Qasa) Mouth Painters Exhibition at Kirstenbosch this evening.
Patricia de Lille’s speech at the Mouth Painter’s Exhibition in Cape Town
03-08- 2007, 18H00, ID President Patricia de Lille will deliver this speech at the Annual Quadpara Association of South Africa (Qasa) Mouth Painters Exhibition at Kirstenbosch this evening. The Exhibition, which runs from today, Friday 3 August through to next Thursday, will be opened by President De Lille at 18.30 today.
Rasool’s major reshuffle puts ‘ANC succession battle before service delivery’ – ID’s Lentit
05-082007, 13H00, The ID’s Western Cape Provincial Secretary, Rodney Lentit has appealed to Premier Ebrahim Rasool ‘to put service delivery and stability in the Western Cape before the ANC’s national succession battle.’
Women’s march to Union Buildings 51 years ago – Commemoration
07-08-2007 , 11H30, (This is a copy of the speech delivered by ID MPL Rose Gudlhuza in the Gauteng Legislature this morning)
De Lille to meet MDC
07-08-2007, 12H30, Top-level ID Gauteng delegation to visit refugees on Wednesday
De Lille to speak at Wits University tomorrow
07-08-2007, 15H00, ‘Struggles of women in South Africa – Personal Reflections’ ID President Patricia de Lille is to speak on the struggle of women in South Africa at Wits University tomorrow.
De Lille calls on women to, ‘claim your rights today’
08-08-2007, 13H45, It is titled ‘Struggles of women in South Africa – Personal Reflections’. Ms De Lille is delivering the speech in the Great Hall of the university at 13H55. This is her speech…
08-08-2007 , 13H30, De Lille delivers powerful Women's Day speech at Wits
This is a copy of the Women’s Day speech to be delivered by ID President Patricia de Lille at Wits University at 13H55 today. It is titled ‘Struggles of women in South Africa – Personal Reflections’, Ms De Lille is delivering the speech in the Great Hall of the university. This is her speech…
De Lille - ‘Zimbabwe needs a Constitution for Zimbabweans’
08-08-2007, 16H00, Tinyiko Manyisa, the ID Provincial Chairperson for Gauteng, says ‘there is no doubt in my mind that we are faced with a humanitarian crisis and we have to do everything in our power to free Zimbabwe.’
De Lille – ‘Madlala-Routledge was probably set up’
08-08-2007, 20H00 ‘I know a woman of integrity when I see one,’ ID President Patricia de Lille has said of Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, after she was fired by President Thabo Mbeki today.
De Lille – ‘Madlala-Routledge has broken the silence’
10-8- 2007, 12H00, ID President calls her ‘an example to women everywhere’
Cirota recuses himself in sexual harassment case against Harding
10-08-2007, 14H00, Mervyn Cirota, the Chairperson of the ID’s National Disciplinary Committee, has recused himself from this position specifically in the sexual harassment case against MP Avril Harding.
STATEMENT ON FLOOR CROSSING FROM ID CAUCUS LEADER – CAPE TOWN METRO
16-08-2007, 15H00, (Please also find below a personal media statement by Councillor Jameelah Daniels) In June the City stated that they had laid charges with the police against Badih Chaaban, an Africa Muslim Party (AMP) councillor, for allegedly bribing City councillors to cross the floor to a new party in the September floor crossing.
De Lille - ‘President Mbeki must put health of our Nation before health of the Minister’
19-08-2007, 13H15, ID President Patricia de Lille, reacting to the latest Sunday Times report on Health Minister Tshabalala-Msimang, says ‘this acrimonious fight that started with the President’s firing of Deputy-Minister of Health, Madlala-Routledge, must now come to an end.
De Lille – ‘Lekota’s comments on greed show there has been no change’
19-08-2007, 13H45, ID President Patricia de Lille has congratulated defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota for chastising ANC members who ‘steal public funds because politics doesn’t pay.’
‘Dugmore must give us full report on audit,’ says ID Western Cape Provincial Secretary
19-08-2007, 14H40, Rodney Lentit, the Provincial Secretary of the Independent Democrats in the Western Cape, says Cameron Dugmore, MEC for Education, ‘is generilising when he says all schools are in a mess because of the strike.
ID meets Movement for Democratic Change
21-08-2007, 13H30, Plans to meet ZANU-PF in next two weeks... ID President Patricia de Lille delivers a Member’s Statement on Zimbabwe shortly after 14H00 in Parliament.
Christians - Independent Democrats will not comment on any matters ‘concerning Avril Harding’
22-08-2007, 10H00, Ferlon Christians, the CEO of the Independent Democrats, says the ID will not comment on any matters ‘concerning Avril Harding.
De Lille and Archbishop Ndungane - ‘Breyton’s inclusion will increase our chances of victory’
26-08-2007, 13H30, Joint statement by Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane and ID President Patricia de Lille
Floor crossing – ‘they leave only with their jackets’
27 -08-2007, 10H00, ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling, in a statement on the upcoming floor crossing period, says ‘whether we win, lose or break even, the Independent Democrats will continue to double our votes at the ballot box in each new election.’
ID PRESIDENT PATRICIA DE LILLE’S MEETING WITH METRO CAUCUS
27-08-2007, 13H00, Independent Democrats President Patricia De Lille met with the party’s City of Cape Town caucus today to update them ahead of the floor-crossing period, which opens on 1 September.
ID statement on Sassman case
27-08-2007, 13H00, ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling says the party ‘has been vindicated in the Cape High Court.
De Lille ‘happy’ with Judge Davis’ ruling in favour of the ID on first matter in Harding case
18H45, 29-08-2007 One more matter to go…
De Lille – Judge Davis to rule on second Harding matter on Friday morning
20H00, 29-08-2007 De Lille ‘happy’ with Judge Davis’ ruling in favour of the ID on first matter in Harding case
Independent Democrats celebrates yet another court victory, the 6th court victory in just five days
31-08-2007, 17H10, A Cape High Court judge has upheld the ID’s expulsion of another three public representatives from the party.
ID welcomes 11 new public representatives – from ANC, UDM, UIF, PAC and others
02-09-2007, 13H00, ‘Just the start...,’ says President De Lille
Grindrod – ‘DA is lying about Jameelah Daniels and lied to Michael Britz’
02-09-2007, 14H00, ‘The DA is lying when it says ID Councillor in the City of Cape Town has crossed the floor,’ says Mr Simon Grindrod, the ID Caucus Leader for Cape Town.
Simon Grindrod to Agoraphobic NNP leader David Sasman – ‘Put up or shut up!’
3-09-2007, 11H15, For over a year David Sasman evaded facing an ID disciplinary hearing by submitting countless sick notes from a psychiatrist stating he suffers from acute Agoraphobia.
Simon Grindrod to Agoraphobic NNP leader David Sasman – ‘Put up or shut up!’
03-09-2007, 11H15, For over a year David Sasman evaded facing an ID disciplinary hearing by submitting countless sick notes from a psychiatrist stating he suffers from acute Agoraphobia.
‘Skwatsha’s strategy is very simple,’ says Jenner
3-09-2007, 14H00, ID Western Cape Provincial Chairperson responds to Drakenstein defections
ID West Coast stands united against ‘Skwatsha and his cronies’
4-09-2007, 12H30, All 11 ID West Coast Mayors, Deputy-Mayors and Councillors have told the media at a press conference at the West Coast District Council in Mooreesburg that they are ‘committed to the Independent Democrats.
De Lille welcomes former Cape Town Deputy-Mayor into the ID fold
4-09-2007, 15H00, Gawa Samuels opens new ID branch in Mitchells Plein
ID welcomes mass exodus from ANC in Blue Downs
5-09-2007, 11H30, Jenner says ID’s ‘de-Skwatshafication’ of the Western Cape continues
National People’s Party’s (NPP) Chief Executive may be moonlighting, says ID Western Cape Provincial boss Izak Jenner
13H00, 5-09-2007 Faried Stemmet, the Chief Executive of the National People’s Party, ‘appears to be moonlighting,’ says Izak Jenner, the ID’s Western Cape Provincial Chairperson.
ID’s Secretary-General sworn in as Member of Parliament
5-09-2007, 16H00, Haniff Hoosen, the Secretary-General of the Independent Democrats, has been sworn in as a Member of Parliament.
Chabaan and Sasman have lied again
6-09-2007, 12H30, The NPP hoax continues as the NPP signs up phantom councillors
ID – ‘we will meet the mafia at the polls’
11-09-2007, 15H00, ‘The Independent Democrats is a national political party that has 155 councillors across South Africa,’ says Izak Jenner, the ID’s Western Cape Provincial Chairperson.
De Lille extends ‘best wishes to all Muslim South Africans’
10H00, 12-09-2007, ID President Patricia de Lille has extended her ‘best wishes to all Muslim South Africans for the duration of the holy month of Ramadaan.
Greyling – ‘Greedy Gore leaves without a constituency’
12-09-2007, 12H00, ‘Former ID MP Vincent Gore has put his own business interests before the vision of the Independent Democrats and the wishes of our voters,’ says ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling.
De Lille wishes Jewish South Africans ‘Shana Tova’
15H00, 12-09-2007, ID President Patricia de Lille has extended her ‘best wishes to all Jewish South Africans for Rosh Hashana.
ID Chief Whip questions taxpayers’ R20b burden for PBMR
12-09-2007, 15H30, This is a copy of the question which the ID spokesperson on minerals and energy will be asking the Minister of Public Enterprises in the House today:
De Lille – ‘Sisulu does not have the authority to remove names from housing waiting lists’
13-09-2007, 13H30, ID President Patricia de Lille says Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s granting of authority to her department to remove the names of Langa’s Joe Slovo residents involved in protest action from housing waiting lists ‘is an abuse of her power and is unconstitutional.
