FState DA caucus ready to work

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File photo

Published May 14, 2014

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Bloemfontein - The Democratic Alliance as the new official opposition in the Free State legislature is ready to work, DA caucus leader Roy Jankielsohn said on Wednesday.

The party's growth has given the DA two additional seats in the legislature.

Jankielsohn introduced the DA Free State team to the local media on Wednesday.

They are Jankielsohn, new chief whip David van Vuuren, caucus chairman James Letuka, and additional whip Mariette Pittaway.

DA Thabo Mofutsanyana chairwoman Leona Kleynhans would be the fifth MPL.

Free State DA leader Patricia Kopane would serve in the National Assembly.

Jankielsohn said the DA was the fastest growing political party in the province and nationally.

The DA grew by 44 828 votes from 2009 to total 164 672 in 2014.

“Every election we are getting closer to governing the Free State and nationally.

“We are much closer than in the past.”

The caucus members were allocated their portfolios this week and were experienced political administrators.

Jankielsohn served as an MP and Free State MPL in the past.

Van Vuuren was previously a councillor in the Mangaung metro council and Pittaway in the Moqhaka municipal council (Kroonstad).

Jankielsohn said Letuka had deep roots in education, sport administration, and community affairs.

“He brings experience in community affairs into politics.”

However, Letuka said he was not new to politics.

His political experience came from serving on the executive of the SA Students' Organisation (Saso) under Steve Biko.

Jankielsohn thanked voters for electing the DA into the position of official opposition in the Free State.

He said the party was ready to conduct oversight over provincial service delivery and implementation of government programmes.

The Free State legislature members would be sworn in on Wednesday.

Sapa

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