Leader of the Independent Democrats, Patricia de Lille, Set to Rock the Vote in KwaZulu-Natal
2004-04-01. Leader of the Independent Democrats, Patricia de Lille, Set to Rock the Vote in KwaZulu-Natal.
It is a great pleasure to once again be in the beautiful province of
KwaZulu-Natal. I have always received a warm welcome from the people of
this province and I look forward to meeting everyone again as I take to
the campaign trail.
I have been campaigning throughout the country and have already visited seven provinces over the last month. It has been an exhausting campaign schedule but one that has also opened my eyes to the realities of this country. I have seen the immense natural beauty in our land, but I have also seen the unbearable poverty that too many of our people are being forced to live with. There are great divides in our country, and being on the campaign trail has reinvigorated my commitment to bridging these divides.
My campaign trail has taken me off the beaten track to small towns which in the ten years of our democracy have never even seen a member of parliament. Some people complain that I do not attend parliament enough, but I will continue on my quest to bring parliament to the people. The concerns in these towns are very similar to the concerns that all South Africans share such as unemployment, crime, HIV/AIDS and corruption. The Independent Democrats are determined to provide positive solutions to these problems and show South Africans the power that resides in an effective and principled political party.
ID realises that KwaZulu-Natal is a hotly contested province at the moment. Political temperatures are running high and the important quality of tolerance for each parties views are coming under increasing attack. The Independent Democrats are not here to raise temperatures in the province, but to provide an alternative and effective voice that can cut through the lies and empty promises of other parties.
When one assesses the last ten years of our democracy, it is clear that the current bunch of old opposition parties have completely failed in offering a credible home to disillusioned ANC voters. There is a great deal for ANC voters to be disillusioned with, but the fact that other opposition parties have failed to attract their support shows the need for a new and positive political party. The constant negativity and fear mongering of the opposition has also compounded the disempowerment that ordinary South Africans feel towards issues such as crime, HIV/AIDS and unemployment. ID believes that it is the role of political leaders to empower communities and actively demonstrate what can be done instead of just complaining about it in lengthy parliamentary speeches.
The Independent Democrats are rocking the vote in this election by bringing a new, principled and effective voice to our troubled political landscape. While other political parties are stuck in the past and have failed to break down traditional political divides, the ID is building bridges between communities and uniting South Africans behind a positive vision for the future. Far from fragmenting the opposition vote, the ID is in fact growing it by attracting supporters away from the ruling party.
Unlike the other political parties, we are not looking to jump into coalitions for the sake of power and positions. The only coalition we are interested in is a coalition with the people of this country. I know what it is like to experience the fall-out of a failed political coalition. The Western Cape had four premiers and four mayors in one political term as a result of the DA, NNP and ANC shifting allegiances to suit their political positions. I would just like to warn the people of KwaZulu-Natal that this so-called Coalition for Change between the IFP and DA is already showing the same warning signs and the results could be devastating for the efficient governance of this province.
The Independent Democrats have become a platform for concerned South Africans who share our vision and determination to become part of a movement for positive change. We already have 62 000 members who are enthused with the passion to effectively confront the challenges of our society. Our national and provincial candidates all possess the skills, determination and desire to play a constructive role in the different parliamentary committees. The ID is not a party of complainers, but a party of doers. Our vision is reflected in a series of policies ranging from job creation to the environment and the arts. In our short one year history we have already proven ourselves as leaders of the effective opposition.
I have been campaigning throughout the country and have already visited seven provinces over the last month. It has been an exhausting campaign schedule but one that has also opened my eyes to the realities of this country. I have seen the immense natural beauty in our land, but I have also seen the unbearable poverty that too many of our people are being forced to live with. There are great divides in our country, and being on the campaign trail has reinvigorated my commitment to bridging these divides.
My campaign trail has taken me off the beaten track to small towns which in the ten years of our democracy have never even seen a member of parliament. Some people complain that I do not attend parliament enough, but I will continue on my quest to bring parliament to the people. The concerns in these towns are very similar to the concerns that all South Africans share such as unemployment, crime, HIV/AIDS and corruption. The Independent Democrats are determined to provide positive solutions to these problems and show South Africans the power that resides in an effective and principled political party.
ID realises that KwaZulu-Natal is a hotly contested province at the moment. Political temperatures are running high and the important quality of tolerance for each parties views are coming under increasing attack. The Independent Democrats are not here to raise temperatures in the province, but to provide an alternative and effective voice that can cut through the lies and empty promises of other parties.
When one assesses the last ten years of our democracy, it is clear that the current bunch of old opposition parties have completely failed in offering a credible home to disillusioned ANC voters. There is a great deal for ANC voters to be disillusioned with, but the fact that other opposition parties have failed to attract their support shows the need for a new and positive political party. The constant negativity and fear mongering of the opposition has also compounded the disempowerment that ordinary South Africans feel towards issues such as crime, HIV/AIDS and unemployment. ID believes that it is the role of political leaders to empower communities and actively demonstrate what can be done instead of just complaining about it in lengthy parliamentary speeches.
The Independent Democrats are rocking the vote in this election by bringing a new, principled and effective voice to our troubled political landscape. While other political parties are stuck in the past and have failed to break down traditional political divides, the ID is building bridges between communities and uniting South Africans behind a positive vision for the future. Far from fragmenting the opposition vote, the ID is in fact growing it by attracting supporters away from the ruling party.
Unlike the other political parties, we are not looking to jump into coalitions for the sake of power and positions. The only coalition we are interested in is a coalition with the people of this country. I know what it is like to experience the fall-out of a failed political coalition. The Western Cape had four premiers and four mayors in one political term as a result of the DA, NNP and ANC shifting allegiances to suit their political positions. I would just like to warn the people of KwaZulu-Natal that this so-called Coalition for Change between the IFP and DA is already showing the same warning signs and the results could be devastating for the efficient governance of this province.
The Independent Democrats have become a platform for concerned South Africans who share our vision and determination to become part of a movement for positive change. We already have 62 000 members who are enthused with the passion to effectively confront the challenges of our society. Our national and provincial candidates all possess the skills, determination and desire to play a constructive role in the different parliamentary committees. The ID is not a party of complainers, but a party of doers. Our vision is reflected in a series of policies ranging from job creation to the environment and the arts. In our short one year history we have already proven ourselves as leaders of the effective opposition.
