Wanted: Busty blonde for leadership position

You know it’s been a slow day in the news world when Lynda Odendaal joining the ANC is a main story on the evening news.

The former Cope second deputy president and lead organiser of a new independent civil-society initiative announced she had joined the ANC amid fanfare and a formal press conference. “Comrade Lynda” is said to be an asset to her new political home brining “values” to the party.

Odendaal is, historically speaking, a political non-entity and her maiden address to Parliament — nominating Mvume Dandala as Cope’s presidential candidate last year — was met with abuse from across the floor and ANC MPs making “meeauw” sounds.

Naturally her new political affiliation was not met with universal approval with some members of Cope on Facebook displaying unfortunate political immaturity by resorting to name-calling and unfounded accusations: tender-chasing being one of them. But even the ANC camp was not too happy to allow a “token blonde” into their ranks

All of that aside, I wonder how much has changed in the ANC since November 2008 for Odendaal to be able to join the party after taking stock of the political landscape and dragging her “values” into the new camp. I cannot judge her intentions or motivation having had very little interaction with her and mainly on Facebook — as history shall be her ultimate judge.

However, her departure from Cope at least left a number of unanswered calls and questions within her Sandton branch. Lily Bashe had quite a bit to say about Odendaal’s new political membership:

“Lynda ran away with her explanation of why she had resigned from Cope. Her constituency, as she was claiming it, is waiting for it. Our sacrifice, trying to profile her in Sandton went in vain. I remember how she fought when we had invited Lyndall to address us in Paulshof. We relented and let her come. But lo! when she resigned from Cope she could not let us know. We called her and SMSed her in vain to at least explain to her constituency why she had resigned. I wish her luck as she has been deployed in the Sandton branch of party. I have been there. She must ask me.”

Now with Odendaal siding with the ANC, and the DA having their Helen Zille, Cope is the only major party without their “token blonde”. Unless Phumzile is willing to go blonde, I guess it’s about time Cope starts head hunting for a “busty blonde to fill leadership position”.