The secretary to the National Assembly, Xolile George, has written to expelled uMkhonto weSizwe Party co-founder Jabulani Khumalo informing him he may not attend the 7th democratic Parliament sitting. This, according to George's letter, was because Khumalo was no longer a member of the party that initially nominated him.
INTENDING TO ATTEND THE FIRST SITTING
Yesterday, Khumalo assured MK Party's 58 members that they will all be attending the sitting on Friday. This is despite the party saying that its members would not attend the first proceedings due to its dissatisfaction with the election results. The party also wrote to Parliament asking that Khumalo not be sworn in as an MP. In the statement, Khumalo said the assumption that the Parliament sitting will not happen if the 58 members are absent is wrong and embarrassing. "Should any MK member of Parliament not avail themselves for understandable fear of victimisation by Mr Zuma and his clique, I will see to it that the members do come to the sitting and represent the party," said Khumalo.
HE HAS BEEN EXPELLED
In the letter to Khumalo, George said that he had received correspondence, dated 4 June 2024, from the secretary-general of Umkhonto weSizwe, Sihle Ngubane confirming that Khumalo was no longer a member of the party. "Section 47(3)(e) of the Constitution provides that a person loses membership of the National Assembly if that person ceases to be a member of the political party that nominated that person as a member of the Assembly. Pursuant to this section, the loss of membership occurs by operation of the law," he said.
MK PARTY MPs' FLIGHTS AND ACCOMMODATION CANCELLED
The travel and accommodation plans for the MK Party members, organised by Parliament, have been cancelled due to the party's decision not to attend the swearing-in ceremony this week. Parliament spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, stated that the upcoming sitting will proceed without the presence of MK members."In light of the MK Party's expressed decision, through their legal representatives, not to attend the first sitting, Parliament has cancelled all arrangements for accommodation and flights for the party's elected members. This measure is to avoid incurring fruitless and wasteful expenditure, in compliance with the Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, 2009," Parliament said in a statement.
