/ 29 April 2009

Electoral commission lists new MPs and MPLs

The IEC on Wednesday released the official list of MPs and MPLs due to take up their seats in the national and provincial legislatures.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Wednesday released the official list of MPs and MPLs due to take up their seats in the national and provincial legislatures after the April 22 elections.

There are few surprises, given that the party lists are largely those published before the election, but many who expected to return to the National Assembly have missed the cut.

Heading the African National Congress’s (ANC) list for the National Assembly is party president Jacob Zuma, set to become democratic South Africa’s third president.

Outgoing President Kgalema Motlanthe is second, followed by outgoing Deputy President Baleka Mbete, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

Last to make it into Parliament on the ANC’s national list — in 126th place — is Molebogeng Dube.

However, because Zuma will be president and therefore resign as an MP, and Motlanthe’s future role, among others, is not yet clear, Vincent Smith (127) and Beatrice Marshoff (128) might still make it into the House.

Dennis Bloem, who left the ANC to join Congress of the People (Cope) before the election, is still at number 125 on the ANC’s list, meaning Eugene Nqcobo (129) should also join his peers in the Assembly.

Intelligence Minister Siyabonga Cwele, at number 131, appears not to have made it, along with Deputy Education Minister Andre Gaum at 145.

The ANC’s other 138 MPs — for a total of 264 — come from the party’s nine provincial lists.

Altogether 19 from the Eastern Cape, nine from the Free State, 31 from Gauteng, 26 from KwaZulu-Natal, 17 from Limpopo, 14 from Mpumalanga, three from the Northern Cape, 11 from the North West and eight from the Western Cape made it into the House.

Former Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool, in sixth spot on that list, moves to the Assembly, with former MPs Connie September (9) and Randy Pieterse (10) just missing the cut. — Sapa