Sizani to Stone his AWOL MPs

The ANC is considering taking action against 93 MPs whose absence from parliament prevented the Labour Relations Amendment Bill from being passed on Thursday last week.

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko led her party in a walkout in boycott of the bill which, she said, would result in job losses .

Parliament's rules require at least one-third of MPs to be present to constitute a quorum.

The walkout, combined with the truancy of ANC members, prevented the bill from being passed into law before the end of the house's second term.

Parliament will only reopen at the end of July.

The ANC claimed DA MPs assembled in the parliamentary bar and watched the proceedings on a TV monitor.

The ANC's parliamentary caucus spokesman, Moloto Mothapo, said new chief whip Stone Sizani had noted with "grave concern" parliament's failure to pass the bill.

"The poor attendance of members of parliament from all political parties on this bill cannot be condoned," said Mothapo.

"According to parliamentary attendance records, the ANC had 171 MPs present in the house.

"We will look at the reasons behind our MPs' absence during this important sitting in order to ensure that any disciplinary action is taken on the basis of facts," he said.

The ANC called the DA's boycott"shameful and scandalous".

"The parliamentary leader's role in this disgraceful conduct is [the] clearest indication yet that this DA caucus is rudderless. There'sabsolutely nothing strategic or tactical about abandoning a parliamentary legislative responsibility for the bar," said Mothapo.

"We will be proposing to the presiding officers that the parliamentary bar be closed when houses of parliament are in session," said Mothapo.

But the DA's chief whip, Watty Watson, said the party was "proud" to have [prevented] a quorum from being formed.

"The ANC's last minute U-turn in parliament's labour committee on key provisions has made a mockery of the entire legislative process of this bill over the past three years, which included extensive public consultations and discussions at the National Economic Development and Labour Council," said Watson.

"The DA will now use the successful postponement of the vote to lobby for key amendments to be included in the bill that will encourage job creation.

"If the ANC chief whip is serious about fighting unemployment, he will engage with us on these amendments," Watson said.