Large numbers of local government councillors, mostly from the New National Party, lost no time in making their move on the first day on Wednesday of the two-week window period for councillors to change political parties without losing their seats.
The African National Congress’ ranks in Gauteng municipalities swelled by 23, with 16 NNP and seven Democratic Alliance councillors crossing the floor.
ANC provincial secretary David Makhura welcomed the new councillors and said the move was ”a clear contribution to … the creation of a truly non-racial society”.
NNP secretary general Daryl Swanepoel said he expected that by the end of the floor crossing period on September 15 the bulk of the 37 NNP councillors in the province would have joined the ANC.
”The councillors are saying they want to be co-builders of South Africa — they do not want to promote a politics that isolates its supporters from the mainstream,” he said.
In KwaZulu-Natal, nine NNP councillors joined the ANC. Others would also join the ANC, but ”are still involved in discussions with NNP and ANC local leadership”, provincial NNP leader Renier Schoeman said.
The DA welcomed 22 councillors, also mainly from the NNP, to its fold.
Party leader Tony Leon said in Bloemfontein this represented the largest gain of any opposition party in the first hours of the defection period.
”They are drawn from all communities, black, white, coloured and Indian, in six provinces and will enhance the DA’s ability to represent all communities.”
By defecting, the NNP members were honouring the original mandate on which they were elected in 2000 under the DA flag.
When the window closed, the DA would ”have five times more councillors than the nearest alternative”, Leon said.
The Independent Democrats opened its doors to 18 councillors around the country, also mainly from the NNP.
Speaking at a function in Cape Town where six councillors from the Drakenstein and Cape Town municipalities were introduced, ID leader Patricia de Lille stressed that they would be expected to live up to the high standards set by the ID’s national leadership.
Also addressing the gathering, former NNP Cape Town councillor David Sassman said he and his colleagues had been subjected to much intimidation and threats in their former party in the run-up to the crossing period.
When these had failed, attempts at bribery and job offers had started.
Sassman said he and those with him believed they had made the right choice. The NNP leadership ”misled and betrayed” most of the 250 000 voters who supported them in the last election, and ”sold out to the highest bidder”.
Other councillors who have crossed the floor to the ID so far, included a number from municipalities in the Northern Cape, Gauteng, and North West.
Responding to Sassman’s comments later on Wednesday, NNP media director Carol Johnson said his allegations were ridiculous.
”Our councillors crossing the floor to the ANC took the decision upon conviction. No guarantees or promises were made to anybody.
”It appears that for Mr Sassman it was more a decision made for a position, than a matter of principle,” Johnson said.
The Freedom Front Plus gained ten councillors from various parties, including former chairperson of the NNP caucus Wrentia Landman, who now becomes the FF+’s first and only member of the Tshwane council.
”We are expecting a lot more people coming especially from the Democratic Alliance and the NNP before the end of the window period,” party leader Pieter Mulder said in Pretoria.
On the other hand, African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe had harsh words for floor crossers.
”Members and councillors who leave their parties because of offers of positions and money are undermining and betraying the mandate given by the electorate who voted for their parties.
”The ACDP promises no one power, position or money. Those who would choose to join the ACDP during the floor crossing window period have to do so because of their agreement with our Christian principles and because of their religious belief and conscience that might be undermined by their present parties,” he said in a
statement. – Sapa
Gauteng ANC grows as DA gloats
NNP flood crosses to ANC
Freedom Front Plus scoops 10