The thunder of feet...
2004-09-01 22:09
Cape Town - Large numbers of local government councillors, mostly from the New National Party, lost no time in using the floor-crossing period to change political parties without losing their seats.
The African National Congress's 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".
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", said provincial NNP leader Renier Schoeman.
18 councillors join De Lille
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.
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.
In Cape Town, where six councillors from the Drakenstein and Cape Town municipalities were introduced, ID leader Patricia de Lille emphasised they would be expected to live up to the high standards set by the party'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 floor-crossing period.
When these had failed, attempts at bribery and job offers had started.
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: "Our councillors crossing the floor to the ANC took the decision on conviction. No guarantees or promises were made to anybody."
The Freedom Front Plus gained 10 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.
Harsh words from ACDP
"We are expecting a lot more people, especially from the Democratic Alliance and the NNP before the end of the window period," said party leader Pieter Mulder 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.'
- SAPA