February 2007
February 2007 press releases are stored here.
British and Germans investigating De Lille Dossier allegations
2007-02-05. ‘Because the ultimate responsibility for the South African Arms Deal rests with President Thabo Mbeki, who as Deputy President presided over the Cabinet committee responsible for the Arms Acquisition Process, we must ask ourselves - what does he have to hide?’ ID President Patricia de Lille has asked upon her return from Germany and the UK.
De Lille – ‘a single life is more valuable than government favour’
2007-02-05. ID President Patricia de Lille has appealed to South Africans to not allow government ‘to bully them into submission over the very real threat crime poses to our quality of life and our society as a whole.’
Cirota slams Cachalia’s ‘vague talk of crime trends’
2007-02-05. Mervyn Cirota, the ID spokesperson on safety and security, says he was ‘dismayed’ over Gauteng MEC Firoz Cachalia’s ‘vague references to crime trends’ at his press briefing at the Radio 702 studios on Friday.
De Lille – ‘ANC has no right to tell Archbishop who can speak in his church’
2007-02-06. ID President Patricia de Lille says ‘certain individuals in the ANC have no right to tell Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane who can and cannot speak in his church.’
ID President - ‘Age of Hope needs leadership, vision and direction’
2007-02-07. ID President Patricia de Lille is hoping that when President Mbeki delivers the State of the Nation Address, he will provide leadership on tackling crime, poverty, Arms Deal corruption and corruption in general, the 2010 World Cup and Global Warming.’
ID statement on State of the Nation Address
2007-02-09. The Independent Democrats expected the President to acknowledge that the Age of Hope he has articulated to the Nation is under serious threat. We expected him to show stronger and decisive leadership in dealing with the two of the biggest threats facing our democracy - crime and corruption.
Greyling owes 20 trees for international and domestic air travel
2007-02-12. ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling has pledged to plant the 20 trees required to offset the carbon dioxide emissions from his air travel upon his return from the G8 +5 Climate Change Dialogue in Washington this week.
Eskom CEO’s departure ‘good news’, says Greyling
2007-02-12. ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling says ‘it is good news’ that Eskom chief executive officer Thulani Gcabashe will end his contract in December this year.
ID RESPONSE TO STATE OF THE NATION 2007
2007-02-13. Honourable President, let me start by thanking you for your honesty in admitting some of the shortcomings of our Government. For that you must be applauded.
De Lille – ‘crime affects us all and should be a force for unity, not division’
2007-02-16. ‘This is simply not an option for South Africa as it goes against the very spirit of reconciliation we have all fought so hard to attain. It is up to all sides in this debate to replace destructive criticism with constructive criticism and proposals.
De Lille patrols Pinelands
2007-02-16. ID President Patricia de Lille, who resides in Pinelands, Cape Town, will report tomorrow evening at 19H45 to the Pinelands Police Station to be matched up with a sector controller to patrol one area of the suburb until 22H00.
Patricia de Lille – heavier weapons for security guards ‘long overdue’
2007-02-19. ID President Patricia de Lille has described the decision by security firms to provide their guards that transport cash with heavier weapons as ‘long overdue. ‘The ID has always supported the threatened strike by security guards, based on the undeniable fact that they have not been given the protection they deserve,’ Ms De Lille says.
Lance Greyling plea
2007-02-19. Lance Greyling, the environmental and energy spokesperson for the Independent Democrats, made a plea late last week to industrialized nations at the G8 +5 Legislators Dialogue on Climate Change in Washington, in the USA.
Members Statement due to be delivered by Avril Harding: 2007-02-20
2007-02-20. The Independent Democrats would like to thank the President for instructing Parliament to set up a National Convention to discuss crime, poverty and transformation.
Harding – ‘Manuel’s tight ship sailing through misty waters’
2007-02-22. ‘Minister Manuel’s Budget Speech is an achievement with regard to education and HIV/Aids, but he has once again snubbed the weakening social democratic voice of the ANC,’ says Avril Harding, the spokesperson for finance for the Independent Democrats.
‘Skwatsha must learn to respect the law,’ says ID’s Izak Jenner
2007-02-22. Izak Jenner, the National Coordinator of the Local Government Desk of the Independent Democrats, says the ANC in the Western Cape should ‘learn to respect the independence of the judiciary.’
ID – ‘separate entrances for the disabled’ must be closed by ACSA, says Gore
2007-02-22. Vincent Gore, the ID spokesperson on discrimination, says the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) ‘continues to discriminate against people with disabilities.’
De Lille – Health Minister ‘remains in our prayers’
2007-02-23. ID President Patricia de Lille says Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang ‘is in my prayers. ‘The Independent Democrats wish the Minister health and strength. When a fellow South African is sick, the spirit of ubuntu guides us towards a powerful solidarity with her, a solidarity which rises above political differences,’ Ms De Lille says.
De Lille ‘ecstatic’ over return of stolen baby
2007-02-26. ID President Patricia de Lille says she is ‘ecstatic’ over the return of ‘the beautiful baby’ Yolanda Yoba to her parents, Lucas and Nokulunga Yoba, of Khayelitsha. ‘They visited me in my office on Friday and it was terrible to see what a week of anguish over the kidnapping of their daughter had done to them,’ Ms De Lille says.
Greyling: ‘Does the DA actually want 2010 Cape Town to work?’
2007-02-27. ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling says the ID ‘is sick and tired of the petty politicking over the Green Point soccer stadium.’
