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.
The ID and the DA have been working hard in the rural communities to
retain the coalition governments they jointly control.
The ID issued an instruction to its provincial leadership that the party will not be working with Badih Chabaan and Truman Prince’s National People’s Party after the walkover. The DA has adopted the same position.
The ID is also aware that there will be between 30 and 40 court cases involving members of Icosa and other parties who have signed with Chabaan and have now changed their minds.
The ID has informed its councillors that if there are any among them who are trapped in such an agreement with Chabaan, it is not too late to turn back. The ID has extended an olive branch of amnesty to any of its members who are in this predicament and is willing to give a written undertaking that they will not be disciplined or victimised by the party should they come forward to receive amnesty.
The ID is also prepared to assist where a councillor may have received a cash loan from Chabaan. This also applies in the City of Cape Town. President De Lille also informed the Metro caucus that she has requested a meeting with DA national leader Helen Zille to discuss floor-crossing in the City and the future stability and continuity of the council.
This comes after DA members have tried to entice ID City councillors to the party, including with the promise of sub-council chairs presently held by the ANC. These DA recruiters know full well that, in terms of the DA constitution, no ordinary councillor who walks to the DA can be promoted for two years after they cross the floor.
It is clear from the DA’s latest survey of political support levels in the Western Cape that the ID is set to get 19% of the vote in the 2009 and therefore will be in a coalition government in the legislature.
It would be senseless for the DA as our partner in the Metro to take ID councillors in the walkover purely for short-term gain.
De Lille today reminded the ID caucus that Zille had – as part of her national leadership campaign – pledged unequivocally that coalitions are the future of politics in South Africa. The ID has a signed agreement with the DA in terms of its participation in the City multi-party coalition government.
De Lille said she hoped to have a constructive engagement on these and other issues with Zille.
The ID President also informed the caucus that David Sassman has lost, with costs, his appeal to have his expulsion overturned in the Cape High Court. The party will now be filling this vacant seat.
Released by ID President Patricia de Lille – 084 777 2065
The ID issued an instruction to its provincial leadership that the party will not be working with Badih Chabaan and Truman Prince’s National People’s Party after the walkover. The DA has adopted the same position.
The ID is also aware that there will be between 30 and 40 court cases involving members of Icosa and other parties who have signed with Chabaan and have now changed their minds.
The ID has informed its councillors that if there are any among them who are trapped in such an agreement with Chabaan, it is not too late to turn back. The ID has extended an olive branch of amnesty to any of its members who are in this predicament and is willing to give a written undertaking that they will not be disciplined or victimised by the party should they come forward to receive amnesty.
The ID is also prepared to assist where a councillor may have received a cash loan from Chabaan. This also applies in the City of Cape Town. President De Lille also informed the Metro caucus that she has requested a meeting with DA national leader Helen Zille to discuss floor-crossing in the City and the future stability and continuity of the council.
This comes after DA members have tried to entice ID City councillors to the party, including with the promise of sub-council chairs presently held by the ANC. These DA recruiters know full well that, in terms of the DA constitution, no ordinary councillor who walks to the DA can be promoted for two years after they cross the floor.
It is clear from the DA’s latest survey of political support levels in the Western Cape that the ID is set to get 19% of the vote in the 2009 and therefore will be in a coalition government in the legislature.
It would be senseless for the DA as our partner in the Metro to take ID councillors in the walkover purely for short-term gain.
De Lille today reminded the ID caucus that Zille had – as part of her national leadership campaign – pledged unequivocally that coalitions are the future of politics in South Africa. The ID has a signed agreement with the DA in terms of its participation in the City multi-party coalition government.
De Lille said she hoped to have a constructive engagement on these and other issues with Zille.
The ID President also informed the caucus that David Sassman has lost, with costs, his appeal to have his expulsion overturned in the Cape High Court. The party will now be filling this vacant seat.
Released by ID President Patricia de Lille – 084 777 2065
