Final party lists handed to Parly see some former MPs being relegated to provincial legislatures

CAPE TOWN - The final party lists handed over to Parliament have seen some former senior members of Parliament (MPs) being relegated to provincial legislatures by their respective parties.

Former MPs who left public service years ago, such as former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Collen Maine, also make a return to public office in provinces like the North West.

ALSO READ: Parties can only amend member lists sent to represent them in Parliament in a year - Xolile George

A Democratic Alliance (DA) former deputy chief whip also finds himself as a backbencher in one of the provincial legislatures in the seventh administration.

The Electoral Committee of South Africa (IEC) officially handed over the lists of MPs and provincial legislatures (MPLs) to Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who passed them to the Secretary of Parliament, Xolile George, on Thursday.

The final list of members of national and provincial legislatures, as expected, had a few surprise moves from most of the big parties.

In the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the outspoken Primrose Sonti, who served in the National Assembly since 2014, did not make it back to Parliament in the 7th term.

Sonti has been redeployed by the red berets to the North West provincial legislature as one of seven EFF MPLs, the same province where she made her name in Marikana.

Staying in the North West, former Rustenburg mayor Mpho Khunou, who resigned under a cloud of controversy, makes a return to public office, this time in the legislature.

Maine also makes a comeback in North West province as an MPL.

Former DA MP and deputy chief whip Michael Waters also finds himself at a provincial level in the Gauteng legislature.

Parliament said preparations to swear in and induct new members were well underway, with the same applying to provincial legislatures.