Beginning Of The End For Floor Crossing Legislation?

MEDIA STATEMENT ISSUED BY:
MR KOOS VAN DER MERWE MP
CHIEF WHIP AND IFP SPOKESPERSON ON JUSTICE
 

October 17, 2006

The Inkatha Freedom Party's Chief Whip, Mr Koos van der Merwe MP, today presented his Private Members' Bill providing for the scrapping of Floor Crossing Legislation to the Standing Commission on Private Members' Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions.

The Committee resolved that it is desirable that this hotly debated issue be referred for further deliberation.

"The IFP is delighted that the committee has ruled that the IFP's Private Members' Bill calls for further debate and that the Bill will now be further investigated and researched by all parties, " said Mr van der Merwe.

Mr van der Merwe continued: "The Bill will give full effect to the principle and practice that the people shall govern and will prevent parties to undemocratically steal seats. This Bill will reintroduce the will of the voters and ensure political stability, by scrapping this undemocratic floor crossing legislation."

"The IFP would therefore like to applaud the DA, ID, ACDP and Minority Front who today, all came out in support of the IFP's Private Members' Bill. We took note of comments that came from this meeting referring to floor crossing as a fraudulent exercise and killing democracy. We are therefore happy to see that the days of floor crossing are numbered," said Mr van der Merwe.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr Koos van der Merwe MP: 082 444 4944
Liezl van der Merwe: 083 611 7470