A day after the official launch of her fledgling new party — the Independent Democrats (ID) — party leader and outspoken Aids activist Patricia de Lille confirmed the election of the ID’s national executive committee members on Sunday.
Speaking at a press briefing in Johannesburg, former Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) MP de Lille introduced Professor Themba Sono, a former Democratic Alliance (DA) member, as the ID’s deputy president.
She also presented Avril Harding as the party’s secretary general, Monique Enser as deputy secretary general and former Western Cape police commissioner Lennit Max as the ID’s secretary for safety and security.
”We feel these leaders represent the heart and soul of the party and we look forward to working with them. Within three months we will be launching all nine provinces officially and will be holding further elections at branch levels,” de Lille said.
De Lille (52) who represented the PAC in parliament since 1994 and was a member of the party for 27 years, retained her parliamentary seat when she left the PAC during the controversial floor-crossing window period last year.
Her new party, which has already signed up 13 000 members in the few months it has been in existence, is founded on a ”back to basics” philosophy.
Back to basics, De Lille explained, involved instilling basic moral values in South African society, such as respect for women and children and an understanding that hard work, and not crime, pays in the end.
”Government is exploiting the hope of the people with things such as the Lotto and casinos. The only way is to provide climate of job creation so people can work. Its these basic, simple values we’re talking about,” she said.
De Lille also emphasised that she expected party executives to lead by example.
”I am an Aids activist myself. I sponsor one HIV-positive baby and one HIV-positive mother. Each month I pay for their treatment. Our party also has three members who are HIV-positive and have publicly declared their status. It is they who will guide us,” de Lille said in reference to the party’s constitution which has yet
to be finalised.
Once this is done and once the party has established itself and its representatives in all nine provinces, the ID will be competing in next year’s general election as a fresh opposition voice. – Sapa