FURTHER RESIGNATIONS FROM PARLIAMENT

30 May 2014

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip confirms further resignations of ANC Members of Parliament sworn-in on 21 May 2014. They are former Minister of Correctional Services Sibusiso Ndebele, former Minister of Women Children & Persons with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana and former Deputy Minister of Social Development Maria Ntuli. As it is normal with similar resignations, there were no reasons provided in their letters. Their resignations are effective from today, 30 May 2014. These resignations follow those of comrades Max Sisulu, Tito Mboweni, Zizi Kodwa and Martinus van Schalkwyk in the past few days.

The Office of the Chief Whip has extended the ANC's deepest appreciation and gratitude to these former MPs for the distinguished and diligent service they rendered to the people of South Africa and the ANC over the years in both the Executive and Parliament. While their departure from Parliament will leave a void, we derive satisfaction from the knowledge that we will continue to tap into their wealth of political and leadership experience they accumulated over decades. Indeed these comrades have expressed their commitment to continue serving the movement and the people of South Africa in other capacities.

We note that the current regulatory dispension does not allow Members of Parliament to retain pensions linked to their previous positions when they assume new positions. Essentially, this means that due to the automatical adjustments in the process of migrating MPs' salaries from old to new positions, their pensions get negatively affected (i.e. substantially lowered). We believe that this matter requires attention as it deprives Parliament with huge institutional memory, experience and skills necessary to strengthening the constitutional mandate of the institution.

Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, May 30 2014

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