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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