National People's Party (South Africa)
The National People's Party (or National Peoples Party)[1][2] was a political party registered on a national level with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa.[3] It came into existence when Badih Chaaban, a member of the Cape Town City Council crossed the floor from the Africa Muslim Party (AMP) in an attempt to wrest control of the city council from the Democratic Alliance-led multi-party coalition.[4] The party was set up by Chaaban shortly before the floor crossing period in 2007 with the help of David Sasman, its interim leader.[5] It should not be confused with the National People's Party, renamed the Minority Front, led by Amichand Rajbansi during the apartheid era.[6]
National People's Party | |
---|---|
Leader | Johan van Niekerk |
President | Badih Chaaban |
Second Deputy President | Jameelah Daniels |
National Coordinator | Petrus Roodtman |
Chief Executive Officer | Farriet Stemmet |
Director of Intelligence | Andrew Lyon |
Founded | 30 September 2007 |
Dissolved | c. 2016 |
Headquarters | 3rd floor, Chaaban House, Prestwich Road, Cape Town |
Ideology | Populism |
Colours | Blue |
Slogan | For the People Vir die Mense |
Website | |
www | |
South Africa portal |
The party has not contested elections since at least 2016 and is presumed defunct.
Persons
Members of the NPP (past and present) include:
- Badih Chaaban
- Jeffrey Donson[7] (now president of Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa)
- Truman Prince[8] (now an African National Congress (ANC) member)
- Juan-Duval Uys[9] (now a member of the National Party South Africa)
- Nickey Valentine[10]
Local government positions
The NPP used to hold three council seats on the Cape Town City Council[11] and controlled the Kannaland Local Municipality[7] and the Cape Winelands District Municipality[12] in coalition with the ANC. After the 2011 local government elections, their position was mostly reduced to a small number of seats in opposition on a limited number of councils. The NPP however governed Oudtshoorn Local Municipality in coalition with ANC and ICOSA between 2011 and 2015, when the municipality was placed under administration.
2011 local government elections
The party challenged the IEC's refusal to accept their candidate nomination lists[13] for the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality's council in the upcoming municipal elections, in the Electoral Court. Judge Pillay of the Electoral Court found that the IEC had been overly zealous in applying the cut-off time, and ordered the commission to allow the NPP to contest the elections.[14][15]
NPP during the apartheid era
Amichand Rajbansi created a party called the National People's Party (NPP)[16] in August 1981[17] from the remains of the South African Indian Council. In the 1984 election for the House of Delegates, part of the Tricameral Parliament then created by the South African Constitution of 1983, the NPP won 18 of the 40 seats.[17][18] The NPP led by Rajbansi became the Minority Front.[6]
The NPP of the apartheid era is not related to the post-2007 NPP.
References
- "NPP | Constitution". Npp.za.net. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- "National Peoples Party v Electoral Commission (002/11 IEC) [2011] ZAEC 3". Saflii.org. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- "View the registration status, level and contact details of political parties". Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
- "Floor-crossing creates uncertainty in Cape Town". Mail & Guardian. South African Press Association. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
NPP backer Badhi Chaaban, who currently represents the African Muslim Party on the council, has vowed to topple mayor Helen Zille.
- "NPP 'will fight for coloureds'". News24. South African Press Association. 2 September 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
Sasman confirmed that Cape Town African Muslim Party councillor Badhi Chaaban had played a major role in setting up the new party. "However it's up to him if he wants to join the NPP," he said. Chaaban has not yet revealed whether he does intend crossing the floor.
- Benita Enoch and Sapa (29 December 2011). "Rajbansi: Bombastic, thick-skinned and controversial - Politics". Independent Online. South Africa. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- "KANNALAND ELECT NPP MAYOR". Retrieved 17 April 2011.
21 SEPTEMBER 2007 A unanimous vote assured Mr. Jeffrey Donson of the National Peoples Party (NPP) the position as Mayor of Kannaland (Ladismith) in the Western Cape.
- "Profile Summary: Truman Prince". Retrieved 17 April 2011.
- Lindsay, Dentlinger (6 September 2007). "Sex-blogger accused joins NPP". Independent Online News. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
As the new National People's Party starts to put faces to the people behind the scenes, an unlikely person emerged on Thursday as its media liaison officer โ none other than sex-blog accused Juan Duval Uys.
- "Meet Your Councillors: Councillor Nicky Valentine". Retrieved 17 April 2011.
Councillor Nickey Valentine โ Mayor; Party Affiliation: NPP
- "Number of seats in Council by political party". Retrieved 17 April 2011.
- Nathan, Adams (10 June 2009). "Badih Chaaban makes a comeback". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
His National People's Party is part of a coalition with the ANC in the Cape Winelands District.
- Warda, Meyer (26 March 2011). "Angry Chaaban misses list deadline". Weekend Argus. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
Flamboyant Cape Town politician Badih Chaaban, the current leader of the National People's Party (NPP) and mayor of the Cape Winelands, literally had the door shut in his face on Friday when he narrowly missed the deadline to submit his party's candidate lists for the May 18 local government election.
- "IEC ordered to accept NPP candidate list". Independent Online News. South African Press Association. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said the IEC was not aware of the order on Tuesday evening. "I don't know, I'm not sure... if there is a case due course will take place", she said.
- "In the matter between: NATIONAL PEOPLES PARTY (Applicant) and THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION (Respondent)" (PDF). Retrieved 13 May 2011.
The respondent is directed to accept the said documents and to forthwith: (i) place the applicant's name on the list of the registered parties entitled to contest the said elections; (ii) place the candidates of the applicant for the various wards in the said elections on the final list of candidates.
- "Profile Summary: Amichand (Bengal Tiger) Rajbansi (South African politician)". Retrieved 17 April 2011.
- "NATIONAL PEOPLE'S PARTY (NPP)". Political Organisations in South Africa as at 1991. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
The National People's Party, which emerged from the remains of the South African Indian Council, was established in August 1981, and, in contrast to the TIC and NIC, takes a more positive attitude towards the South African government. The small support base of the NPP, and Indian parties in general, has led to their legitimacy being questioned by a large section of the Indian community.
- "South Africa โ Political parties". Retrieved 17 April 2011.
The National People's Party won 18 and Solidarity 17 of the 40 directly elected seats; the two parties formed a governing alliance in January 1986.