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Johannesburg — Three more ANC MPs quit Parliament on Friday, bringing to seven the number of resignations since Sunday, the office of the ANC chief whip said.“They are former minister of correctional services Sibusiso Ndebele, former minister of women, children and 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,” Stone Sizani said in a statement.
The resignations are effective from Friday.
Seven ANC MPs have resigned since President Jacob Zuma announced his new Cabinet on Sunday last week.
These resignations follow those of former National Assembly speaker Max Sisulu, former tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Tito Mboweni and Zizi Kodwa.
Zuma replaced Sisulu with Baleka Mbete and shifted Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom into the tourism portfolio, leaving Van Schalkwyk — who has served as a Cabinet minister for the past decade — out in the cold and set to serve as an ordinary ANC MP.
Kodwa has been appointed as spokesman for the ANC.
Sizani said his office extended the ruling party’s deepest appreciation to the former MPs for “the distinguished and diligent service” they rendered to the country.
“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,” Sizani said. — Sapa
derick.khumalo