/ 7 September 2007

Floor-crossing battle leaves Cape politician confused

One of the Cape Town councillors embroiled in the city’s floor-crossing battle said on Friday she did not know what party she belonged to any more.

Georgina Sass was one of five Independent Democrats (ID) members that the newly formed National People’s Party (NPP) claimed on Thursday had defected to it.

However, Sass was not at the media briefing where the names were announced, and the ID later claimed she had reaffirmed her loyalty to it.

Asked on Friday whether she had indeed crossed to the NPP, or whether she was still an ID member, Sass said: ”I don’t know.

”I don’t want to say anything because is seems people know more about me than myself.”

She declined to answer further questions, saying she would speak to the media, ”but not at the moment”.

The NPP was formed with the backing of colourful African Muslim Party councillor Badhi Chaaban, who is seeking to topple the coalition city government headed by Cape Town mayor and Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille.

The ID said earlier that some of its councillors signed official forms that they intended to cross to the NPP, but changed their mind, and told the Independent Electoral Commission so before the floor-crossing window opened at midnight on August 31.

At that stage the DA-led coalition had 125 seats in the 210-member council, a tally which included 22 ID seats.

Cape Town is the only metro in South Africa not controlled by the African National Congress. — Sapa