A familiar face is now wearing a new jacket as former Freedom Front Plus councillor Isabelle De Taillefer joined the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday (7 April).
In a statement the DA in the Western Cape said it was excited to announce De Taillefer as its Ward 9 Stellenbosch by-election candidate. Moving over from the FF Plus, Councillor De Taillefer believes her values are aligned to the DA and she sees the party as the only ideal vehicle to action her passion to serve. De Taillefer is standing for the position of ward councilor following the resignation of DA ward councillor Zelda Dalling.
“I am very excited to be the DA candidate for Ward 9. It is not only the beautiful historic heart of Stellenbosch and the Winelands, but it also still guards the earliest memories and exudes the pristine energy that attract people from all over the world. Serving all who live, work, and invest in it, as well as helping to keep it a crucial tourist magnet, will be the honour of a lifetime,” de Taillefer said in a statement.
“I have great respect for Mayor Jeremy Fasser and Deputy Mayor Mynard Slabbert and wholeheartedly support their vision for Stellenbosch. During my time on the Municipal Council, I made good friends among the DA Councillors who always selflessly supported me with advice and action to deliver the best for all our people, so it is with confidence that I make the move to the Democratic Alliance caucus,” she added.
DA Stellenbosch Constituency Head Leon Schreiber said having a by-election candidate with strong local knowledge and ties to the community is a great asset. “Councillor De Taillefer’s decision to join the DA is part of a larger pattern in Stellenbosch where more and more people are realising that only the DA has the values and size to make a tangible difference in our community and country. Rather than wasting her experience and knowledge with an irrelevant small party, she can now meaningfully apply it to the benefit of the residents of Ward 9 as well as the greater Stellenbosch,” he said.
The Ward 9 by-election will take place on Wednesday 14 May.
