Editing Independent Democrats (section)

== Merger with DA ==
In 2010, then-ID leader Patricia de Lille formalized an agreement to merge with the Democratic Alliance. The two parties merged by 2014. Due to this, the ID did not contest the 2011 local elections as a separate entity, instead fielding its candidates on the DA's ballots. In February 2012, the-then Leader of the Official Opposition, [[Lindiwe Mazibuko]], reshuffled her shadow cabinet, which included appointing members of the ID to shadow portfolios for the first time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citypress.co.za/SouthAfrica/News/DAs-Athol-Trollip-gets-Mazibukos-old-portfolio-20120201#.TykgEYsptnc.twitter |title=DA's Athol Trollip gets Mazibuko's old portfolio &#124; City Press |website=City Press|location=South Africa |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201121056/http://www.citypress.co.za/SouthAfrica/News/DAs-Athol-Trollip-gets-Mazibukos-old-portfolio-20120201#.TykgEYsptnc.twitter |archive-date=1 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This was seen as a move towards strengthening the co-operation between the two parties heading towards the completion of the merger.