Claims of huge bribes, fevered meetings between leaders of political parties, angry letters to newspapers by readers who feel robbed of their democratic say: yes, it’s floor-crossing season once more.
“The effect of floor-crossing on South Africa’s political landscaping is bound to be detrimental insofar as it attacks democracy at its very core by making politicians less accountable for their actions and undermining the concept of ‘representation’,” wrote one Mail & Guardian Online reader.
“This piece of legislation has grossly been abused by greedy and self-serving public representatives,” wrote another, adding: “How do we continue to convince the voting public that it is still in their best interest to go to the voting booth and participate in future elections?”
Institute for Democracy in South Africa research shows that 1 100 public representatives have switched sides since the inception of floor-crossing in 2002. The African National Congress (ANC) has been the big winner, taking control in two of the country’s nine provinces previously out of its reach.
Predictions are that this year’s floor-crossing period is set to see further fragmentation of the opposition, with the ANC taking in the bulk of the defectors. This does not contribute to a healthy opposition, and the situation certainly isn’t helped by this week’s news of a Cape Town councillor reportedly offered the Democratic Alliance’s Western Cape leader R200 000 in cash and a woman in a floor-crossing bribe.
It might well be time to cross out floor-crossing, which has become a political embarrassment.
| FULL SPEED AHEAD |
NOT SO FAST |
Nelson Mandela
In his book Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela wrote that he and a young Oliver Tambo joked that “perhaps someday there would be a statue of us” instead of the one of General Smuts near London’s Westminster Abbey. This week his wish came true — and Madiba still had the humility to dedicate it to all South Africa’s struggle heroes. |
 Mandisi Mpahlwa
South Africa’s National Lottery is still floating somewhere in government limbo, despite promises of its “imminent” revival. This week, reporters were told not to ask Trade and Industry Minister Mpahlwa about the issue at a press briefing. Perhaps the minister was tired of pretending to know the answers? |
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