The Independent Democrats said it has whisked away seven Democratic Alliance members on the eve of elections, although the DA says the ID is guilty of “double-counting defections”.
Themba Sono, deputy leader of the ID, welcomed “senior registered members of the DA” at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The ID named the new members as:
- Vincent Gore, former MP and constituency head of the Houghton-Alexandra constituency;
- Councillor Tony Panall, an activist for the DA/Democratic Party for 12 years, immediate past chairperson for the Krugersdorp branch and chairperson of the DA Mogale City caucus;
- Morris Siweya, chairperson of the Alexandra branch of the DA;
- Hennie Bester, secretary of the Krugersdorp branch of the DA and a member of the Electoral College;
- Albert “Ali” Lukhele, chairperson of the Ward 16 Swanniville branch of the DA;
- Huge Mkhize, chairperson of the 32 Swanniville branch of the DA; and
- Abraham Thatelo, chairperson of the Orient branch of the DA.
However, the DA’s Ian Davidson said: “Both Vincent Gore and Tony Pannall joined the ID some time ago.
“Vincent Gore resigned out of sour grapes because he did not consider himself high enough on the candidates list to get re-elected.
“Pannall resigned shortly after he was replaced as chairperson of the DA caucus in Mogale City. He also professed that he believed that the DA was ‘too Afrikaans’.
“Morris Siweya was chairperson of the Ward 75 [Alexandra] branch, but this branch has been disestablished for some time because of infighting.
“Huge Mkhize was an ordinary member, and not a branch chairperson.
“We have absolutely no record of either an Orient branch or Abraham Thatelo, the alleged chairperson.”
Sono said: “These individuals represent the growing discontentment that supporters of the DA are experiencing with the leadership of the DA and the direction in which the DA is moving.
“They will be bringing with them approximately 900 former DA supporters. The ID continues to see an influx of voters disenchanted with the DA in Gauteng.”
Davidson responded: “A few disaffected individuals joining the ID won’t change the fact that the overwhelming majority of opposition voters will choose the DA, because it offers a real alternative that can challenge the African National Congress for power.”
Sono, in an apparent reference to the defection of members from the ID in the Western Cape, said: “The defection by these credible DA members today stands in stark contrast to the pathetic political stunt that the DA mounted earlier this month receiving into its ranks a handful of dishonest people.”
A DA official stormed out of the ID media briefing after being accused of spying.
DA senior researcher Gareth van Onselen walked out of the meeting at the Gauteng legislature after ID officials identified him as a DA member.
“We don’t know what prompts them to spy on us,” said Sono. “This is the second time we have caught DA people spying on us.” — Sapa
Special Report: Elections 2004