Former president Jacob Zuma’s new party MK’s flights and accomodation arrangements have reportedly been canceled by parliament ahead of National Assembly sitting.
The recent news of Parliament cancelling Zuma’s MK party’s flight and lodging arrangements follows the party’s announcement that it will not be attending the swearing-in ceremony this week.
During his statement on Monday, 10 June, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo announced that the President and speaker of the National Assembly will be elected on Friday 14 June in Cape Town at 10:00. IOL reports that in the absence of an interdict by a court, Parliament announced that this week’s sitting will proceed without MK members.
Parliament said in its statement,
“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 is also said to be currently organizing flights and accommodation for about 400 MPs who are set to attend the first sitting. In their announcement, the MK party stated that its 58 elected members, expected to occupy seats in the National Assembly, will not be attending the first sitting. According to them, the first session is unconstitutional.
