South Africa Moves to Ban Cross-carpeting By Politicians

The Government in South Africa, has finally approved constitutional amendments to ban the floor-crossing of Members of Parliament (MPs) and councilors, a practice which has become unpopular across all parties, sources confirmed here Sunday.

The Bills containing the amendments were passed by the Cabinet last week and were on Sunday been published for public comment before they are tabled in Parliament.

Justice Ministry spokesman, Zolile Nqayi said:”The two Bills are intended to abolish floor-crossing in the national assembly, provincial legislatures and municipal councils.”

“The legislation would mean that we revert to the position prior to 2002 when the legislation was passed by Parliament.”

The Constitution’s Seventeenth Amendment Bill would amend the Constitution to abolish the right of MPs to become a member of another party while retaining membership of national Parliament and provincial legislatures.

Among other things, the Bill seeks to abolish the merging of two separate parties into one and the subdivision of a political party into several others while its sits.

The Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill will also abolish floor-crossing, merging and subdivision of political parties at local government level.

In addition to a ban on floor-crossing, the Cabinet approved a Bill providing for penalties to be imposed on leaders and officers of political parties who fail to account for the use of funds allocated through the Independent Electoral Commission-run Represented Political Parties’ Fund.

It is understood that the proposed legislation would give the Independent Electoral Commission power to appoint auditors to investigate the use of funds by political parties.

Other provisions prohibit political parties with representation in legislative bodies from changing their names.

Source African Press Agency

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