'09 deal would've made De Lille premier
2010-08-15 21:16
Johannesburg - Western Cape Premier Helen Zille revealed on Sunday that she'd offered ID leader Patricia de Lille the position of premier during the 2009 national elections if she'd combine her efforts with the DA.
"(I told her) if the ID and DA got together now we can win the elections and we'll make you premier. (But) De Lille said we are not going to make any deal about getting her a position," recounted Zille.
Zille, who is also the DA leader, was speaking in Kempton Park, where De Lille announced at a joint news conference that her party would be joining the DA.
Zille said the recent negotiations were characterised by the same attitude, with De Lille refusing to discuss guaranteed positions for herself.
"One thing that Patricia has refused to do, is make this about getting a position for herself.
"This made me respect her more," said Zille.
"The ID constitution will remain. The ID will phase into the DA, a process that will be completed in 2014," said De Lille.
"This step takes us closer to building a new majority that can win elections across South Africa," said Zille.
Shared values
"It will build a way from the politics of race mobilisation and toward the politics of shared values."
The merger will mean the two parties will contest the 2011 local government elections together.
The news conference culminated in De Lille and ID deputy president Agnes Tsamai receiving their DA membership cards.
Zille and De Lille said that all elected representatives of the ID would also join the DA as dual members.
The "phase" and dual membership is key to the agreement, as the ID's constitution forbids mergers with other political parties.
The "marriage" is a result of several months of negotiations.
"These types of processes are extremely complex and are fraught with pitfalls on all sides. Our democracy is unfortunately littered with failed projects of this kind," said De Lille.
"I can therefore proudly state today (Sunday) that this is a marriage that will last, because very importantly, it has the blessing of our members."
Alternative
Zille said the party would offer an "alternative" for voters and was "helped" by the respect the two leaders had for each other.
"I'm certain that by joining forces we will be bringing more voters to the idea of an alternative," said Zille.
De Lille said other political "marriages" had failed because leaders had been preoccupied with positions.
"They said 'you take that position and I'll take this position' and never consulted with their structures," said De Lille.
"You can't just take a position because you want a bigger pay packet.
"I've been in a pension plan for 15 years. I could retire tomorrow if I wanted to."
The DA and ID began their negotiations after receiving mandates from their respective party congresses.
Cope, UDM
Zille and De Lille said they would continue to seek talks with the Congress of the People (Cope) and the United Democratic Movement (UDM).
"In this regard, negotiations with Cope and the UDM will continue once they have received the mandate from their respective conferences," said Zille.
However, she warned that they would have to move quickly to receive mandates with the local elections imminent.
"We do not have the luxury of time," said Zille.
According to the memorandum between the two parties, the ID will "phase out" its existence as a separate organisation by 2014. By the 2014 national elections, all dual members will become DA members with the DA taking on all of the ID's assets and liabilities.
The memorandum also reads that the DA will co-opt an "appropriate number" of ID members into its national and provincial leadership.
- SAPA