MPs take a break after hectic session

By Angela Quintal

CAPE TOWN -- MPs began their winter recess yesterday after a hectic three-month term, with some forced to put their defection and merger plans on hold following a constitutional challenge to the floor-crossing legislation.

The legislation was among a host of controversial measures adopted by Parliament during this period which saw some MPs poised to show their new political colours ahead of the mid-year break.

But at least one was caught off-side. Charles Redcliffe (NP) jumped the gun and without protection of the defection laws told his party he was defecting to the DA. However, a Cape High Court interdict granted to the UDM derailed the process.

However, the NNP said it would not take action against Redcliffe.

He and other parliamentarians wishing to defect will now have to wait for a Constitutional Court decision in July or August on whether the legislation is constitutional.

Among those who may find themselves without a seat is the AEB's Cassie Aucamp, should moves to replace him be successful this weekend.

Nineteen Bills were passed by both Houses during the three-month term, including the Immigration Bill, the Media Development and Diversity Agency Bill, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Bill and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Bill.

This was in addition to lengthy and tedious debates on 33 budget votes and the adoption of the Budget.

MPs also mourned the deaths of two ANC MPs -- Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete and Peter Mokaba.

The ANC in Parliament saw Nathi Nhleko replace Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula who was appointed Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. Mapisa-Nqakula succeeded her husband Charles Nqakula who was appointed Safety and Security Minister after Tshwete's death.

The ethics committee called two MPs to appear before it to answer charges that they failed to disclose benefits in the Register of Members' Interests.

While Mandla Msomi (IFP) co-operated with the committee, ANC Women's League president Winnie Madikizela-Mandela snubbed her peers.

She has since been reported to the party's leadership for various alleged misdemeanours including chronic absenteeism.

Nhleko has vowed to crack the whip against absenteeism in the government benches and plans to institute a system of fining MPs when they return to work.

NNP leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk and MP Cobus Dowry were among those MPs who resigned their seats -- Van Schalkwyk to take on the post of Western Cape premier and Dowry to become Western Cape Local Government MEC.

The IFP indicated it would redeploy five senior MPs to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, including Sybil Seeton and Velaphi Ndlovu.

The UDM has also moved to re-deploy one of its MPs, Nokuzola Mndende. She has threatened to resign from the party should the UDM go ahead.

The DA, which supported the defection Bills, disciplined two of its MPs who were opposed to the measure and boycotted the vote. Raenette Taljaard and Mike Lowe were forced to apologise to their parliamentary caucus.

Cheryllyn Dudley (ACDP), who put Deputy President Jacob Zuma on the spot about his views on oral sex during question time in Parliament, laid a charge of sexual harassment after an ANC MP allegedly asked her to "show him oral sex".

Bongilizwe Solo subsequently had to apologise to the House.

The ANC co-operation pact with the NNP, which resulted in the lifting of the anti-defection clause, also saw a key parliamentary committee post going to the NNP.

Francois Beukman became the chairman of Parliament's standing committee on public accounts.

MPs have supposedly returned to their constituencies and will return to Parliament for the start of the new term on July 29. -- Sapa