Avril Harding

**Avril Harding** (wey dem born 11 September 1960) be South African politician wey be de first secretary-general for de Independent Democrats (ID) from when dem start de party for June 2003 go reach July 2007. E too represent de party insyd National Assembly from April 2004 to August 2007, under de Western Cape constituency. 

## Independent Democrats: 2003–2007
Before, Harding  be de elections manager for Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), plus say e work close with PAC politician Patricia de Lille, especially during de party ein 1999 general election campaign. When de floor-crossing window open for 2003, de Lille comot PAC go start new party wey dem call Independent Democrats (ID), Harding follow am as co-founder. Dem make Harding de first secretary-general for de party, plus Monique Enser as ein deputy.

### National Assembly
Insyd de 2004 general election, Harding win seat for National Assembly. He be one of de seven ID members wey enter Parliament, plus Cecil Burgess, dem be de two wey represent Western Cape constituency. As he still hold ein post as ID secretary-general, dem appoint am again as de party ein chief whip for Parliament.

Insyd early 2005, internal wahala start when Lennit Max, ID leader for Western Cape, face party disciplinary hearing sake of allegations say Harding plus de Lille collect donation from one man dem talk say be drug kingpin, Quintin Marinus. De Lille get info say National Prosecuting Authority dey investigate dem, plus she think say na Max leak de matter through ein police links. Max insist say Harding and de Lille really collect de money, but de ID party deny am strong.

By early July 2007, ID hold elective conference insyd Cape Town, den Harding lose ein position as secretary-general. Dem replace am with Haniff Hoosen.

### Sexual harassment complaint
Few days after de 2007 elective conference, ID summon Harding go disciplinary hearing for dem office. Dem charge am say he do sexual harassment. De complaint come one month before from Agnes Tsamai, wey just win position as ID deputy president dat same weekend. She talk say for party event wey happen for Klerksdorp on 2 June, Harding make sexual move give am—say he even call am for phone beg am make she come ein hotel room make dem sleep together. But dem postpone de disciplinary hearing.

### Expulsion
As de case still dey ground, insyd August 2007, ID cut Harding comot from de party. Dem talk say Harding dey plan defect go join new party wey dem call de Social Democrats during de upcoming floor-crossing window. So he lose ein seat for National Assembly on 22 August 2007, because once you lose party membership, you no fit remain MP. Haniff Hoosen wey replace am as secretary-general earlier now take over. Harding try go court fight de matter, but de Cape High Court dismiss ein legal challenge. So de internal sexual harassment case no get meaning again. Later, Hoosen talk say “some people for ID” try destroy ein life permanently.

## Congress of de People
After dem establish Congress of de People (COPE) for 2008, Harding join dem plus run for election under dem name for de 2009 general election. But de position wey dem put ein name for de party list low, so he no win any seat. Still, after de election, COPE announce say Harding go work full-time for dem headquarters as head of administration for Parliament.

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