DA snubs ID prediction
2004-04-08 09:00
Pietermaritzburg - The 11th-hour battle for the opposition vote raged on Wednesday, with the Democratic Alliance dismissing, as "simply ridiculous" claims by Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille that her party was set to win up to 10% of the national vote in next week's elections.
DA director of strategy Ryan Coetzee on Wednesday described De Lille's claims as "fantasies", saying they had been contradicted by three separate surveys conducted by the DA on voter support.
But De Lille struck back, claiming the DA was producing "concocted" results from a "front company" run by DA Cape Town councillor Belinda Walker while the ID relied on a survey conducted by Markdata, an established, independent company which has done predictions for numerous elections.
Coetzee has admitted that two of the surveys were conducted by
Walker's company. "Does it matter?" Coetzee said.
The ID on Wednesday released the Markdata findings of a poll amongst the South African electorate, saying it has yet to be published.
The ID said the survey, conducted at the end of February and the beginning of March this year, showed that the ID garnered 10% of support among the participating voters.
They said the survey found that a further 13% of interviewees
indicated that, although they admired the ID and its leader Patricia de Lille, their vote was as yet undecided.
"The Markdata poll indicated without doubt that the ID has, during its short life, made significant inroads into the
South African political landscape," the ID said in a statement.
Responding, Coetzee said that "de Lille is desperate to convince disbelieving voters that her party will amount to something after the election.
Brutal truth
"The brutal truth is that she will get between one and two percent of the overall vote nationally, and might get 2.5% if she is lucky,".
An upbeat De Lille responded saying she remains confident that the Markdata results will be proven correct.
"I am feeling very confident. This survey was conducted in March, and it found that the ID garnered 10% of support among the voters who participated.
"These results confirmed my own experience travelling round the country in the last six months. There is a need for a new, fresh political party in South Africa."