Parliament has given notice that two United Democratic Movement MPs who were expelled by their party the day before the floor-crossing window will not be replaced at present.
In a statement on behalf of the Speaker, Baleka Mbete, Parliament’s media unit said on Monday that there have been no developments on floor-crossing since Friday.
It was referring to the 15-day defection window period for parliamentarians that closes on September 15.
The media office noted, however, that the membership of Malizole Diko — who was the deputy leader of Bantu Holomisa’s UDM — and Mavis Nomakhaya Mdaka of the National Assembly was terminated on August 31.
Parliament noted that in terms of Section 47 (3) of the Constitution, a person loses membership of the National Assembly “if that person inter alia ceases to be a member of the party that nominated that person as a member of the Assembly”.
“Therefore, by operation of the law, these two members ceased to be members of the National Assembly when the United Democratic Movement terminated their party membership,” Parliament said in a statement.
It noted that the court hearing — in which six members of the UDM, including the two MPs, are challenging their expulsion — will be held on September 8.
Parliament noted that the court has ordered the Speaker not to swear in any persons representing the UDM to replace the two members — in effect, the two vacancies may not be filled.
FF+ MPL crosses the floor
Meanwhile, the Afrikaner-based Freedom Front Plus announced on Monday that it has lost its sole seat in the Mpumalanga legislature, owing to the defection of its member.
Party leader Pieter Mulder said in a statement that Louis Marneweck opted to join his own Christian party, which he will lead himself.
Mulder suggested that Marneweck is establishing a Christian party by un-Christian methods — taking the votes of his party.
Meanwhile, FF+ chief whip Corné Mulder on Monday invited New National Party members to find a new home in his party.
“Ordinary NNP supporters find themselves in a political vacuum after the leadership of the NNP deserted to the [ruling] African National Congress.
“It has been clear for a considerable time now that the ordinary NNP members would not be following the NNP leadership to the ANC.
“During the 2004 elections, nearly 300 000 voters supported the NNP. These voters must find a new political home. The voting patterns during the forthcoming local elections will now already give an indication as to where these former NNP members will be voting in future.
“These NNP members and supporters will be able to find a home with the FF+, as the FF+ is a modern dynamic political party that will not be leaving these voters in the lurch,” Mulder said. — I-Net Bridge