De Lille gives Mazibuko the nod

Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille has backed Lindiwe Mazibuko’s candidacy as leader of the Democratic Alliance in Parliament.

Read: Lindiwe Mazibuko: The time is now

“In helping our party to grow at unprecedented levels in the local government elections, Lindiwe has proved herself an exceptional leader and a formidable opponent of the ANC,” De Lille wrote in a letter of endorsement released on Sunday.

“I believe that she is the best person to take our party forward in Parliament. In this historic moment, she is the best person for South Africa.”

DA MP Mazibuko (31) announced in September that she would be standing against the party’s current parliamentary caucus leader Athol Trollip in the elections on October 27.

“I am very pleased to formally announce that I have decided to stand as a candidate for the position of parliamentary leader in the mid-term caucus leadership elections,” she had told reporters in Cape Town.

Mazibuko’s move followed news reports that she had been lobbying members of the DA’s 77-member caucus for their support.

She also believed her age was an asset.

Two-thirds of South Africans were under 35, and this would be significant factor in the 2014 elections.

“I intend to use my youth as a strength,” she said.—Sapa