Lindy Wilson now member of parliament

POLOKWANE – DA provincial chairperson, Lindy Wilson is quite honest about herself: “I’ve got a Messiah complex: I want to change it all, and I want to do it now!”

And this is why she decided to test the waters in the political arena, after initially serving as an operational manager for the DA, where she was responsible for the Mopani area.

“I was tasked to manage the political activities in the Mopani area and worked closely with the public representatives in the area. I had to drive and highlight issues, such as water, RDP housing and so forth, but was not politically involved. The issues sparked my interest, as I felt I wanted to do something about them. When a spot in ward 20 in Polokwane became vacant, I stood as a DA candidate and we won the ward. I was suddenly in a political position where I could make a difference. I could get more involved in issues on ground level and it was hugely more satisfying,” she says.

Lindy ended up representing the DA as a member of parliament after this year’s election, and she now serves as the DA shadow minister for social development.

“It is a huge responsibility, we have to monitor early childhood development, orphans and vulnerable children, the elderly, feeding schemes, HIV/aids and families, substance abuse and play an oversight role over the South African Social Security Agency for instance. I was delighted to be awarded this portfolio, although I preferred the agriculture portfolio at first,” says Lindy.

She is still the DA provincial chairperson.

Years ago, as the advertising manager at Northern Media Group and later an entrepreneur running a catering and events management business and an advertising and marketing venture, she could not have dreamt she would have ended up where she is today.

She is happy to see the “initiation” period as new members of parliament end. “Living in hotels all the time, the training, getting used to the Cape’s winter weather, it was hectic. I now have my own house in Cape Town and just have to add the finishing touches to make it ‘my own’.”

She has so far attended all sessions at parliament, but was shocked to see the decorum and ethics of the institution turned upside down by people who acted as if it was a circus. “It frustrated me. Parliament is a place that should be respected. You can push a point too far. We must lead by example and respect the decorum and the ethics of parliament.”

With two children aged 14 and 17, becoming an MP must have been a big decision as it entails a lot of travelling and commuting between Polokwane and Cape Town?

“Yes,” Lindy says. “We had a long meeting as a family. My husband and children had to understand exactly what being an MP entails, the time I will be away from home. My husband encouraged me, saying I earned the right to be there (in parliament), and he said I have to do it. I couldn’t have done it without his support. My children are in boarding school, and it would not make a lot of difference to them. I really miss going to the prize-givings and sports events though, I used to attend them. I will see them during the school holidays, which usually fall in the parliamentary recess, and they can come and visit me in Cape Town.”

Her portfolio committee sits on Wednesdays, and she will spend most weekends in Polokwane. “It is a situation we will manage,” she says.

Lindy sees the opportunities opening up now as the biggest growth period in her life. She is happy, as she believes as soon as you stop learning, you stop living. “And while the DA is fighting, there is hope. It is our mission.”