Speech Delivered on the Occassion of Councillors Crossing the Floor to the Independent Democrats by Patricia de Lille
2004-09-01. The Independent Democrats is the fastes growing political party in South Africa, attracting supporters from all over the country. This was confirmed in a recent SABC/Makinor study showing that our support has tripled in just under eight months.
Today, as a tangible expression of
such growht, the Independent Democrats is proud to announce that
Councillors throughout the country have found political home in the ID.
Over the past few weeks we have been contacted by numerous Propotional
and Ward Councillors in all nine provinces who see ID as a political
vehicle to take forward their ideals. These councillors have rejected
the old policies and approaches of their previous political parties and
have taken on board the new vision and principles of the Independent
Democrats.
I want to take this opportunity of now welcoming these Councillors into the ID family. I also want to stress, however, that all these Councillors will be expected to live up to the same high standards set by the national leadership of the ID. All of them have signed our party's Code of Conduct and have agreed to work tirelessly to live up to ID's stated objective of "taking politics back to the people."
The ID will in turn benefit from the experience that these COuncillors bring to the party. It will also for the first time offer us political representation in many local councils. This will strengthen our ability to respond to issues at a local level, which is after all where delivery is supposed to take place.
The ID will shortly be holding public meetings in each of the wards that these Councillors represent. These meetings will explain the value that the ID will bring to these constituencies and assist in integrating these Councillors and their supporters into the ID family.
I thank you.
I want to take this opportunity of now welcoming these Councillors into the ID family. I also want to stress, however, that all these Councillors will be expected to live up to the same high standards set by the national leadership of the ID. All of them have signed our party's Code of Conduct and have agreed to work tirelessly to live up to ID's stated objective of "taking politics back to the people."
The ID will in turn benefit from the experience that these COuncillors bring to the party. It will also for the first time offer us political representation in many local councils. This will strengthen our ability to respond to issues at a local level, which is after all where delivery is supposed to take place.
The ID will shortly be holding public meetings in each of the wards that these Councillors represent. These meetings will explain the value that the ID will bring to these constituencies and assist in integrating these Councillors and their supporters into the ID family.
I thank you.
