'De Lille's next big step...'
2004-04-15 22:07
Sue Segar & Rayaan Adriaanse
Cape Town - The greatest test for Patricia de Lille's Independent Democrats party is how she picks her new team in the next 48 hours - with the next election in mind.
This was the view of Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa (Idasa) political commentators Richard Calland and Judith February as they commented on De Lille's success yesterday.
Calland said De Lille should immediately start operating her party "with her eye on the next poll".
"Great leaders always start planning the next election the moment they start operating," he said.
"A further big test is how De Lille consolidates her support," added February.
"One of the big challenges she faces as leader of the new
party on the block is how to sustain her image as champion of the underdog and of the poor.
The right place at the right time
"To sustain such an image is a difficult job."
February ascribed De Lille's success to the fact that South African voters wanted "something different" and someone who challenged the status quo.
Rayan Adriaanse of Die Burger reports that political analysts said the Independent Democrats also provided an alternative to especially coloured and white voters at just the right time.
They said on Thursday the ID's good performance also could be attributed to De Lille's personality, someone with a proven track record as an activist.
A strategic mistake by the Democratic Alliance also had bolstered her cause.
However, the party will have to shake the image of a "single personality" after the elections.
The ID also will be tested on its ability to organise at grassroots level and to follow a credible policy, said experts.
By Thursday afternoon, the ID was firmly placed as the fourth largest party on national level as well as in the Western and Northern Cape.
Professor Amanda Gouws of the department of political science at the University of Stellenbosch said people wanted to see De Lille turning the ID into a viable party.
"She can do it because she has the parliamentary experience. If she can manage to build the party's capacity, she might become an important alliance partner," said Gouws.
She said early results showed De Lille drew the votes mainly of coloured and white voters in the Western and Northern Cape.
People saw her as someone to vote for because of her image, for example, that she did not hesitate to expose corruption.
Idasa's February agreed with Gouws.
"In the Western Cape, there are a number of factors that worked in her favour.
Unwitting helping hand from the DA
Voters were tired of the floor-crossing, constant changes in the position of mayor and premier and some were also not taken up with the New National Party/African National Congress marriage.
"She is also media-friendly and known as someone who can preach ethics and accountability," said February.
She said the Democratic Alliance unwittingly bolstered De Lille's profile when they attacked her in a radio advertisement.
"That definitely improved her profile, especially if one looks at references to her in letters columns and her appearances on radio.
"For this (the attack), she received loads of free coverage in the media and she used it to market herself as a real alternative."
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