THREE senior MPs of the Independent Democrats who are part of the Democratic Alliance's parliamentary caucus have followed their boss Patricia de Lille's endorsement of Lindiwe Mazibuko as the DA's preferred parliamentary chief.
ID parliamentary leader Joe McGluwa, chief whip Lance Greyling and Joe Gunda, the Northern Cape delegate in the National Council of Provinces, have snubbed DA incumbent Athol Trollip in favour of Mazibuko by announcing they would vote for her when the party meets in a fortnight to elect a new parliamentary leader.
Trollip and Mazibuko are involved in a fierce two-horse race for the position of DA parliamentary leader - a position Trollip was elected to in 2009.
MPs from the ID, which has five members, are allowed to vote in the DA election following the formation of their coalition in the 2009 general election, that saw party founder De Lille joining the DA-led Western Cape government before she became the mayor of Cape Town in May this year.
In a joint statement issued by a communications firm hired to communicate Mazibuko's campaign strategies, McGluwa and Greyling described the DA's upcoming election as a chance to bridge racial divisions in the DA. "The DA parliamentary leadership elections represent a chance to bridge divides in the party and take the DA in a new direction, to become a true political alternative for all South Africans.
"It is important that this is seen as a process of healthy internal democracy," McGluwa said.
Greyling said: "I have worked closely with Athol Trollip over the past year and I have come to respect his leadership abilities ... the election of Lindiwe and her team will see the right mix of energy, experience and ability that I believe will be able to drive the vision of the DA with renewed vigour."
However, the other two ID MPs - Haniff Hoosen and Sarah Paulse - have not come out in public support of either Mazibuko or Trollip.
Lindiwe gets support from ID MPs
THREE senior MPs of the Independent Democrats who are part of the Democratic Alliance's parliamentary caucus have followed their boss Patricia de Lille's endorsement of Lindiwe Mazibuko as the DA's preferred parliamentary chief.
ID parliamentary leader Joe McGluwa, chief whip Lance Greyling and Joe Gunda, the Northern Cape delegate in the National Council of Provinces, have snubbed DA incumbent Athol Trollip in favour of Mazibuko by announcing they would vote for her when the party meets in a fortnight to elect a new parliamentary leader.
Trollip and Mazibuko are involved in a fierce two-horse race for the position of DA parliamentary leader - a position Trollip was elected to in 2009.
MPs from the ID, which has five members, are allowed to vote in the DA election following the formation of their coalition in the 2009 general election, that saw party founder De Lille joining the DA-led Western Cape government before she became the mayor of Cape Town in May this year.
In a joint statement issued by a communications firm hired to communicate Mazibuko's campaign strategies, McGluwa and Greyling described the DA's upcoming election as a chance to bridge racial divisions in the DA. "The DA parliamentary leadership elections represent a chance to bridge divides in the party and take the DA in a new direction, to become a true political alternative for all South Africans.
"It is important that this is seen as a process of healthy internal democracy," McGluwa said.
Greyling said: "I have worked closely with Athol Trollip over the past year and I have come to respect his leadership abilities ... the election of Lindiwe and her team will see the right mix of energy, experience and ability that I believe will be able to drive the vision of the DA with renewed vigour."
However, the other two ID MPs - Haniff Hoosen and Sarah Paulse - have not come out in public support of either Mazibuko or Trollip.
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