ANC MP going to Cope

2008-12-02 21:01

Cape Town - ANC MP Mampe Ramotsamai has resigned from the ruling party and joined the Congress of the People.

She told Sapa on Tuesday her decision, while not an easy one, was based on recent developments within the ruling party.

"The main one being the recall of former president Thabo Mbeki," she said.

Ramotsamai confirmed she had handed in her resignation to the office of the Speaker of Parliament earlier in the day.

Asked if she had had any reaction from the ANC, she replied: "Not yet."

Ramotsamai said the passing of legislation to disband the Scorpions had also had a bearing on her leaving the ANC and joining Cope.

While she had voted with her party on this issue, she had done so because she felt, at the time, bound to its decision.

"Later, I saw I was not doing something correct."

The Scorpions were an effective crime-fighting unit, with an 80% success rate, but they had been removed "for narrow political ends", she said.

Ramotsamai served on Parliament's environmental affairs and public works committees.

- SAPA