MP shocks DA by joining the ANC

Democratic Alliance MP Beverley Abrahams dropped a bombshell when she announced she was joining the ANC during her speech in parliament.

Abrahams, the DA's member of the National Council of Provinces from Gauteng, used her motion yesterday afternoon to announce her resignation.

She has been placed on an ANC national assembly list, positioned at 118, above senior party members like Charles Nqakula and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

In her speech, she referred to the ANC as "a place where all South Africans are treated equally".

"There are (sic) nothing more pleasurable like returning to a place called home," said Abrahams.

"Ngifuna ukuzimanya ANC jenanga manje (I am entering a union with the ANC with immediate effect)," she said.

Abrahams would not disclose when she started negotiating with the ANC, but said she had only decided to quit the DA yesterday.

DA federal chair James Selfe said the party should fill Abrahams's position by the end of the week.

"We have already asked the chairman of the National Council of Provinces and the speaker of the Gauteng legislature to remove her as a public representative.

"Had she not left as fast as she did, she would probably have been removed," he said.

ANC caucus spokesman Moloto Mothapo said: "Abrahams's resignation, the first ever to be made during a live sitting of a house of parliament, sent shock waves through the DA.

"The Office of the ANC Chief Whip is confident that more members will be joining the movement during this period in recognition of the good story [the ANC has to tell]".