Johannesburg | Monday
The NNP’s departure from the DA raises the issue of what will become of the public positions of DA representatives who wish to follow the NNP.
Those who were elected as NNP party members, before the formation of the DA, will retain their posts. But those NNP sympathisers who have been elected as DA representatives may not be able to stick with the NNP without losing their positions.
”We advise all councillors not to do something which could give the DP an opportunity to kick them out of the DA,” said NNP representative Daryl Swanepoel on Sunday.
Swanepoel said the NNP believes the DP is spreading a rumour that councillors could lose their posts due to the NNP’s withdrawal from the alliance.
”This is not true and will only happen in accordance with present legislation as well as on a basis where councillors can resign and defect to the NNP without losing their seats.”
He said more information regarding the defection clause would become known within the next couple of days.
MPs and MPLs (members of provincial legislatures), and town and city councillors are in different positions. MPs and MPLs would only be able to cross the floor following a constitutional amendment. But town and city councillors could be allowed to switch parties following a comparatively simple change in legislation. Such a change could be passed in as little as three weeks, according to justice portfolio committee chairman Johnny de Lange (ANC).
According to Business Day, the ANC is contemplating legislation that would give NNP-nominated public representatives a chance to switch parties without losing their posts. But rather than make this arrangement permanent, the opportunity to switch parties would last just two weeks, ensuring that future events will not see the ANC losing representatives. The Citizen suggested on Monday that van Schalkwyk may even be in line for a national cabinet post, if he ”delivers” NNP supporters in the Western Cape to the ANC.
– Sapa, M&G reporter