Cape Town — The National Assembly (NA) says its decision to cancel all of the uMkhonto weSizwe’s (MK) Party’s flights and accommodation was merely a precautionary measure.
The first parliament sitting is set to take place on Friday, as the African National Congress (ANC) prepares to form a Government of National Unity (GNU) after losing its majority vote for the first time since democratic rule in 1994.
In an effort to preserve peace ahead of the upcoming Parliamentary sitting, the NA made the decision to cancel the flights and accommodation bookings for all 58 MK Party members who were expected to take a seat in Parliament on Friday after the party said it would approach the Constitutional Court to get an interdict against the sitting on Friday, IOL reported.
The Party wants to interdict Zondo from presiding over the first sitting of the National Assembly, which will elect functionaries including the president and speaker of Parliament.
STATEMENT ON THE MK PARTY’S CHALLENGE TO ELECTION RESULTS AND BOYCOTT OF FIRST SITTING
For a soundbite for the Spokesperson of Parliament, Mr Moloto Mothapo, please click: https://t.co/yGzinGJv1O
Parliament, Monday, 10 June 2024 – Parliament has taken note of the letter from…
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) June 10, 2024
In response, NA spokesperson, Moloto Mathapo, told NewzroomAfrika said it would reverse its decision if the MK Party changed its stance, and would then make arrangements to fly the 58 members to Cape Town.
“I think it is a precautionary step to say we are in the process of ensuring that the 400 designated, elected members who are supposed to be sworn-in on Friday make it to Cape Town from various provinces of South Africa,” he said.
“When we received the letter from the lawyers of the MK party saying their members, all of them that are reflecting on the list will not be able to make it for the first sitting, administratively we had to look at that decision that they have taken to say do we proceed with bookings for accommodation and flights?” he added
“We are in continuous communication with them and should the situation change before Friday, we will definitely make sure that we reserve the accommodation as well the flights for them. So it is just a precautionary measure, and an administrative process.” he concluded.
Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says it would be fruitless expenditure to continue making arrangements for MK Party members to attend parliament after they announced boycotting the sitting. He added that they are communicating with the party.https://t.co/XLIRyA1nE7 pic.twitter.com/9SRdeDKkHO
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 10, 2024
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@DZumaSambudla
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
