Floor crossing gets the nod

2003-02-25 18:03

Donwald Pressly

Cape Town - Legislation to allow defection for South African Members of parliament and members of the nine provincial legislatures got the nod in the national assembly this evening, by 300 votes to 41 of 400 MPs - easily making the two-thirds requirement for constitutional changes.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Fourth Amendment Bill is now expected to be passed by the National Council of Provinces next month before being signed into law.

This means that a 15-day window period for defections by elected politicians at national and provincial level is likely to take place sometime in March or early April. Last year a defection period for local government councillors led to over 500 councillors switching political allegiance. - I-Net Bridge

- News24