Fruitful meeting for candidate
HE's a third generation Patrick from South Africa who is out to win your vote in the local election.
Patrick Maphoso was canvassing voters on Dublin's Moore Street yesterday and one thing translated across nationalities and languages -- frustration with Fianna Fail.
Hailing from the Northern Cape in South Africa, the former anti-apartheid activist has been living in Ireland since 2001 and is standing as an independent in the North Inner City Ward of Dublin City Council.
Despite having no previous connection with Ireland, his grandfather and father were both named Patrick as the apartheid regime forced all black South Africans to give up their traditional names and use English ones instead.
"I've been getting a mixed reaction. Some people are frustrated with the Government, they feel let down by Fianna Fail. Some people will tell me, 'I can't vote for you because you're not one of our own'. But the majority of people have been supportive," he said.
"Most people are coming to terms with it, they're living with these people [immigrants] and they know they're not just going to disappear overnight. It's getting there, change is pain. I'm from South Africa so I know all about it."
- BREDA HEFFERNAN
