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Floor Crossing in South Africa

The floor crossing legislation seems important to some parties, and to others not. The developments in the politics of South Africa since the withdrawal of NNP from the Democratic Alliance put the Anti-Defection Laws that were in place under review. The proposal to allow members of legislatures to cross the floor, started as a DA initiative to bring South Africa in line with other democracies. There are certain implications for democracy and for the South African electoral system if this legislation should pass.

The DA was the first to advocate floor-crossing because this would have allowed it to operate as one party in both provincial and national legislatures. Their members could resign from their old parties and join the DA without the risk of losing their seats. This legislation "…gives the power to politicians at all levels of government to defect to other parties and retain their seats." (Smit, 2002). On the subject of ANC rooting for the defection of members, the UDM (Unit...

Posted by: Carlos Hernandez

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