Tommy Abrahams

Thomas Abrahams (born 18 April 1946) is a retired South African politician who served in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2004. He was the national treasurer of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) until 1 April 2003, when he crossed the floor to the African National Congress (ANC).

Tommy Abrahams
Member of the National Assembly
In office
June 1999  April 2004
Personal details
Born
Thomas Abrahams

(1946-04-18) 18 April 1946
CitizenshipSouth Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress (since 2003)
Other political
affiliations
United Democratic Movement (until 2003)

Life and career

Abrahams was born on 18 April 1946.[1] He gained election to the National Assembly in the 1999 general election, listed on the UDM's national party list.[1] At an early stage of the legislative term, he acted as the UDM's chief whip while the incumbent, Sipo Mzimela, took lengthy sick leave.[2][3] In mid-2001, when Mzimela was suspended from the UDF, he told the press that Abrahams, while acting as chief whip, had been complicit in mismanagement of the party's constituency and parliamentary funds.[3][4] The UDM denied the allegation and said that Mzimela held a grudge against the party because of his suspension.[3]

In March 2003, by which time Abrahams was the national treasurer of the UDM, the Mail & Guardian reported that Abrahams was one of several UDM members who was unhappy in the party.[5] Shortly afterwards, during the floor-crossing window of April 2003, Abrahams and five other MPs resigned from the UDM and joined the governing ANC.[6][7] He served the rest of his term under the ANC banner and left Parliament after the 2004 general election.

References

  1. "General Notice: Notice 1319 of 1999 – Electoral Commission: Representatives Elected to the Various Legislatures" (PDF). Government Gazette of South Africa. Vol. 408, no. 20203. Pretoria, South Africa: Government of South Africa. 11 June 1999. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  2. "Party whip red-faced after blue joke flops". IOL. 1 November 2000. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  3. "Mzimela defies UDM leadership". News24. 20 June 2001. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  4. "Mzimela fights back". News24. 1 July 2001. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  5. "Bantu's party fades to grey". The Mail & Guardian. 16 March 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  6. "UDM takes a pounding from floor crossing". IOL. 2 April 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. "Six more UDM MPs defect". News24. 1 April 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
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