I challenge all politically conscious South Africans to monitor the trend in the forthcoming floor-crossing period.

I challenge all politically conscious South Africans to monitor the trend in the forthcoming floor-crossing period.

It appears that once you crossed the floor, you cause havoc and anarchy in your new political home, and then cross back again afterwards.

In the previous window period alone, floor-crossing gave birth to no less than six new political parties. Politicians will always argue and forward reasons why they established such parties. However, some of these don't add value at all to the political climate in this country.

It should be noted that the floor-crossing legislation, however acceptable to some political parties and individual politicians, is in fact a bad idea. Period!

Even formations that are themselves creations of this legislation don't take kindly to it, especially in its current form.

Some politicians, who find themselves occupying legislative seats, albeit without constituencies, tend to think they have the birthright to such positions and are thus sacrosanct.

They normally become pompous, arrogant and ignorant of the fact that they are accountable to the parties they represent, at least until the electoral legislation is reviewed.

Few people will dispute the fact that opportunism lies at the core of the floor-crossing law.

This law is eroding the interest and the faith of the voters in politics and political parties.

I wish to challenge all those who call themselves leaders to develop loyalty for their political parties and not allow cheque-book politics to entice them.

Genuine democracy will die if cheque-book politics and carrot-dangling become the order of the day.

We need to join hands and build a nation of true multiparty democracy where differences are tolerated and are not reasons for waiting for September each year.

Vela Ntuli,

Johannesburg