Shilowa will attend Parliament opening
2011-02-09 19:55
Cape Town - Parliament is unable to give effect to the expulsion of Congress of the People deputy president Mbhazima Shilowa, Speaker of the National Assembly Max Sisulu said on Wednesday.
Shilowa was expelled from the party by co-founder and Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota on Tuesday, but Sisulu said he was unable to make a ruling on the matter because there had been "no conclusive resolution".
"If a political party informs the speaker of an expulsion, according to the internal guidelines applicable to such notice, the speaker gives effect to that decision," Sisulu said.
"The loss of membership is a matter of law and the speaker must act accordingly. Thus I am unable to give effect to the expulsion until I obtain the necessary clarity."
Sisulu said both Lekota and Shilowa were entitled to be present in the House during President Jacob Zuma's state of the nation address on Thursday evening.
"I have written to both Mr Lekota and Mr Shilowa to communicate Parliament's position in this matter," Sisulu said.
"We trust that the two parties will resolve their differences in due course."
Lekota and Shilowa broke away from the African National Congress in late 2008 to form the party and led it to a strong showing in national elections months later.
It has since been riven by infighting.
- SAPA
