[It would be great. But let’s see. Floor crossing has always been manipulated by the ANC in their favour. It is such a stupid undemocratic idea. Jan]

The days of ANC rule in the Western Province could be numbered as the prospect looms of disgruntled members defecting after the floor-crossing period starts at midnight.

While there is wild speculation about possible moves in the next 15 days, the Cape Argus has it on good authority that a number of ANC members, including some who moved from the now defunct New National Party (NNP), will probably walk across to the DA.

The possibility has opposition parties drooling at the thought of wresting power from the ANC.

The main reason for possible defections is that a deal struck between the two parties when they merged has gone sour.

The agreement guaranteed that the ANC would ensure the NNP members positions in the provincial government. This has happened in some cases, but generally NNP members have been sidelined.

But with the uncertainty of the succession battle and the infighting and tensions within the provincial government, this grouping is said to be unsure whether the agreement will still hold water, especially with the possibility of new leadership, and is looking for a more secure political future.

Traditionally, the ACDP and the DA have a close alliance and it is expected that this will be maintained.

However, it is thought that dissatisfied NNP members in the DA could in turn entrust their political futures to the ID and ANC.

The majority the ANC currently enjoys could disintegrate, depending on the number of defections.

ID provincial leader Sakkie Jenner told the Cape Argus that the possibility of the ANC losing its stronghold in the province would be “a very fortunate position for the ID to be in when the 2009 elections come around”.

“But as it goes with floor-crossing issues, we have to reconsider and make calculated decisions every time something crops up.”

At a press conference earlier this week, DA provincial leader Theuns Botha and national leader Helen Zille appeared confident that their party would survive the floor-crossing unscathed and instead would succeed in getting ID and even ANC members to cross to the party.

“We have a non-aggression attitude to canvassing,” Botha said. “But they are contacting us and we will definitely take some of them.

“The DA is going to have a positive floor-crossing season. We don’t expect to lose a significant amount of members.

“For the first time we are getting ANC members to join the DA.”

ANC provincial spokesperson Garth Strachan said the party knew nothing of any members crossing over to the ID or the DA.

“It would be very surprising and very unlikely. But at the end of the day, it’s individuals that cross and I suppose nothing is impossible,” Strachan said.

In the local government arena, it is expected that some ANC councillors will also use the floor-crossing period to find new political homes with maverick councillor Badih Chaaban’s New Peoples Party (NPP) and the DA.

Some members of the small contingent of UDM members in the city council are believed to have plans to walk over to the ANC, while some ID members will seek out the DA and NPP.

Further afield there is speculation that the ANC is preparing to take over the Kannaland (Karoo region), Oudtshoorn, Drakenstein (Boland), and George municipalities.

These are currently run by fragile coalitions of the DA, ID, UDM and community political groupings.

Meanwhile, the ID appears intent on weeding out “errant” members who are the most likely to cross the floor.

On Thursday Achmat Williams lost an appeal against expulsion in the Cape High Court.

Judgment on the expulsion appeal by the party’s former secretary general, Avril Harding, will also be handed down in the Cape High Court today.

Florence Batyi, Rudolph Smit, JJ Januarie and Jakes Botha will ask the court on Thursday to stop the ID expelling them in an effort to retain their seats.

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