Not much good about De Lille’s new party

She has no countrywide support base, writes Dawie Jacobs from Sterrewag.

Political breakaways are nothing new in South Africa. In fact, it is built into our DNA, especially among Afrikaans speaking communities. Where it happens as a result of personality clashes and not on matters of principle, in other words, based more on being “anti” than on principles, it is destined for the political wilderness.

I am afraid it is the road that Patricia de Lille’s envisaged party is going to travel.

Her interview on the Afrikaans TV station Kyknet confirmed my reading. In essence, she merely said that “good people” must stand together – very vague.

She also stated that they must still think about a programme.

She is thus putting the cart before the horse, and that with the election just around the corner.

She also has no countrywide support base and there are still allegations hanging over her head.

I respect her fighter’s instinct, her trademark, but it also brought her many enemies.

Also, a fighter’s instinct will not be enough to bring about a political movement of note that will make a meaningful impact on the elections within a few months.

The only potential impact in the short term is to draw unhappy voters away from the DA, thus weakening the official opposition.

I am normally excited about viable new political parties, since we need a strong opposition.

However, there is nothing about the announcement about De Lille’s new party that fills me with optimism.