Recently impeached Judge John Hlophe to lead MK Party in Parliament
Former Western Cape Judge President Dr John Hlophe will lead the MK Party in Parliament. Does this mean the members will finally be sworn in?
The Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has appointed recently impeached Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe as its Chief Whip in Parliament.
Hlophe was included and addressed as National Chief Whip in a letter addressed to MK Party caucuses.
JOHN HLOPHE TO LEAD MK PARTY IN PARLIAMENT?
According to SABC News, Hlophe confirmed he will lead the MK Party in the National Assembly.
In the recent National and Provincial Elections, the newly-formed party emerged as the third-biggest political party in the country, having received over 2 million votes.
As a result, the party obtained 58 seats in the National Assembly. However, its members ditched the first sitting where they were supposed to be sworn in on Friday, 14 June.
In the first sitting, the ANC’s Thoko Didiza was elected Speaker of Parliament and Cyril Ramaphosa was duly elected as president and has already been sworn in.
ACCOMMODATION AND FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS CANCELLED
Parliament has cancelled accommodation and flight arrangements for 58 MK Party members who were expected to occupy seats in the National Assembly.
The decision came after the Zuma-led party urged Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and Secretary to Parliament Xolile George to postpone the first sitting of the National Assembly, claiming it would not be constitutional. The party raised concerns about the discrepancies in the 29 May polls.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said they disagreed with the MK Party’s interpretation of Section 46 of the Constitution.
Mothapo said Parliament was legally bound to facilitate the first sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces at a date and time determined by the Chief Justice, and no legal impediments are preventing this process.
“According to section 49(3) of the Constitution, until a court sets aside the election results, Parliament must ensure that the sittings proceed as directed. Because the first sittings of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces will take place physically, the Parliamentary Administration is in the process of making arrangements to provide travel and accommodation for all members listed by the IEC, as handed over by the Chief Justice, to attend these sittings and the associated onboarding activities scheduled in Cape Town.
In light of the MK Party’s expressed decision, through their legal representatives, not to attend the first sitting, Parliament has cancelled all arrangements for accommodation and flights for the party’s elected members,” he said.
Mothapo said this measure is to avoid fruitless and wasteful expenditure, in compliance with the Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, 2009.