Sybil Seaton Explained

Party:African National Congress
Office1:Member of the National Assembly
Termstart1:May 1994
Termend1:May 2009
Citizenship:South Africa
Birth Date:14 August 1948
Constituency1:KwaZulu-Natal

Sybil Anne Seaton (born 14 August 1948) is a retired South African politician who represented the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in the National Assembly from 1994 to 2009, serving the KwaZulu-Natal constituency.

Legislative career

Seaton was born on 14 August 1948.[1] She was elected to represent the IFP in the National Assembly in the 1994 general elections[2] and served three terms, gaining re-election in 1999 and 2004;[3] she represented the KwaZulu-Natal constituency. During her second term, she was the deputy chief whip of the IFP caucus;[4] she continued in that position in her third term[5] and later became the party's spokesman on correctional services.[6] In that capacity she argued that Parliament should "reconsider" the abolition of capital punishment.[7]

During her time in Parliament, Seaton spearheaded a campaign to improve MPs' remuneration packages. She raised the inadequacy of the prevailing package as early as 2003.[8] [9] In 2008, she drafted a private member's bill to increase MPs' pension,[10] which received cross-partisan support and led to the formation of a multi-party task team that met with President Thabo Mbeki over pension packages.[11] She retired ahead of the 2009 general election.[12]

Notes and References

  1. 11 June 1999 . General Notice: Notice 1319 of 1999 – Electoral Commission: Representatives Elected to the Various Legislatures . . Pretoria, South Africa . . 408 . 20203 . 26 March 2021.
  2. Book: South Africa: Campaign and Election Report April 26–29, 1994 . . 1994 . 13 April 2023 . Yumpu.
  3. 20 April 2004 . General Notice: Notice 717 of 2004 - Electoral Commission – List of Names of Representatives in the National Assembly and the Nine Provincial Legislatures in Respect of the Elections Held on 14 April 2004 . . Pretoria, South Africa . . 466 . 2677 . 4–95 . 26 March 2021.
  4. Web site: Pressly . Donwald . 12 March 2004 . IFP lists its top contenders . 2023-04-24 . News24 . en-US.
  5. Web site: Pressly . Donwald . 23 May 2006 . R86m 'paid for new prisons' . 2023-04-24 . Business . en-US.
  6. Web site: 2009-02-04 . IFP calls for probe into correctional services . 2023-04-24 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
  7. Web site: 27 June 2007 . 'End parole for child-killer monsters' . 24 April 2023 . IOL.
  8. Web site: Grobler . Cobus . 10 June 2003 . Parly doesn't pay . 2023-04-24 . News24 . en-US.
  9. News: 3 April 2007 . Salary increase not enough, say MPs . IOL . 24 April 2023.
  10. Web site: Hamlyn . Michael . 19 May 2008 . MPs want better pensions . 2023-04-24 . News24 . en-US.
  11. News: 15 June 2008 . MPs in rare and unified stance over pensions . IOL . 24 April 2023.
  12. News: 29 April 2009 . DA whiz Coetzee leads party race for top role . IOL . 24 April 2023.