ID President Patricia de Lille has today welcomed 11 new public representatives, including one ANC ward councillor, from all over South Africa to the Independent Democrats. They have come mainly from the ANC, UDM, UIF and the PAC.

‘While other parties have been obsessed with floor crossing strategies, the ID has been signing up new members across the country. We are well on our way to achieving our goal of one million votes in 2009,’ says De Lille.

‘Those who have left us have done so for money and greed. We will leave it up to the electorate to judge them for what they have done.’

‘These 11 people who have come to the Independent Democrats are different – they have joined our goal of bringing one million South Africans from across the colour, class and culture divides together behind our vision of bridging the divides and providing economic freedom to all our people,’ De Lille says.

‘The growth of our party will never be determined by the numbers of public representatives crossing the floor for reasons of greed, but only by our rapidly growing support base amongst the voters.

‘Those who have joined us have consulted with their communities and we have their support,’ says De Lille.

‘I would also like to warn the media that they must please check their facts before spreading the lies of other political parties. In Drakenstein Municipality, for instance, the media has mentioned 5 councillors who they say have left the ID, but they do not mention names.

‘The DA has said that Jameelah Daniels has left us, but she has not,’ De Lille says.

These are our new Councillors:

1.     Petrus Kees
        a.     ANC Ward Councillor from Barrydale, in Swellendam Municipality (Western Cape)

2.     Councillor Matanzima Shadrack Mokoena
        a.     Metsi Maholo Municipality- Free State
        b.    Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Free State
        c.     Member of the South African Council of Churches

3.    Councillor Mbongeni Praise Him Jackson Kotana
        a.    UDM  PR Councillor
        b.     Port St Johns Municipality- Eastern Cape
        c.    Elected as Councillor in March 2006

4.    Councillor Boerman Joseph Wade
        a.     UDM PR Councillor
        b.    OR Tambo Muncipality-Eastern Cape
        c.     Elected as Councillor in March 2006

5.    Councillor John Dikela
        a.     ANC PR Councillor
        b.    Renosterberg Municipality- Northern Cape
        c.     Elected as first time Councillor in March 2006

6.    Councillor Nzima Frans Filda
        a.     PAC PR Councillor
        b.    Naledi Municpality- Free State
        c.     Elected as Councillor in 2006
        d.    Served as member of PAC for many years

7.    Councillor Tryphina Sesie Nomavundo
        a.     Highveld Resident Concerned Party PR Councillor
        b.    Govan Mbeki Municipality- Mpumalanga
        c.     Elected as councillor in 2006

8.    Councillor Sarah Noqawe Masabata Moroe
        a.     Independent Ward Councillor
        b.    Naledi Municpality- Fress State
        c.     Elected in 2006
        d.    Contested against ANC and won

9.    Councillor Peter Tueloetsile Tshipo
        a.     Independent Ward Councillor
        b.    Moshaweng Municipality- Northern Cape
        c.     Elected 2006
        d.    Contested against ANC and won

10.  Elvis Mandlenkomo
        a. UIF Councillor from Rustenburg Municipality (Northwest)

11. Rosie Lekoane
        a. UIF Madibeng Municipality (Northwest)

Released by ID President Patricia de Lille – 084 777 2065