Former MK Party MP France Bongani Mfiki, on the right, during a plenary session in the National Assembly.
Image: Facebook
THE Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has issued an ultimatum to three former MPs from the MK Party, demanding they vacate their subsidised parliamentary residences or face eviction proceedings.
Former MPs Garatwe Agnes Mogotsi, France Bongani Mfiki, and Nomade Grace Mgwebi lost their parliamentary seats just three months after being sworn in.
The trio was part of a larger group of ten MPs who contested their removal in court in 2024; however, their application was dismissed with costs by the Western Cape High Court.
Despite their dismissal, the three MPs have continued to reside in Acacia Park, Pelican Park, and Laboria Park, raising concerns about their ongoing occupancy. The issue came to light when Freedom Front Plus MP Philip van Staden questioned Minister Dean Macpherson about whether individuals not qualifying for parliamentary accommodation were living in the parliamentary villages.
The parliamentary villages consist of 666 residential units that accommodate MPs, sessional officials, support staff for disabled MPs, party political and parliamentary staff, as well as Department of Public Works and Infrastructure officials on standby duties.
According to Macpherson, "MPs are ordinarily given a month to move out of their parliamentary accommodation when they no longer serve as public representatives," says Macpherson.
He specifically named Mogotsi, Mgwebi, and Mfiki, along with an official from the Transport Department, as individuals not qualifying for parliamentary accommodation.
Department spokesperson Lennox Mabaso stated that the former MPs were initially allocated residences in line with the benefits afforded to all elected public representatives.
"After losing their seats, they refused to vacate the residences, citing an unresolved legal dispute with the party that deployed them to Parliament. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is not involved in this legal dispute and, therefore, believes that the rule of law must apply," he added.
When MPs lose their seats, they are required to vacate their residences in the parliamentary villages.
"South African law requires us to follow a process to evict people, including an order of the court," says Mabaso.
He also noted that the Office of the State Attorney issued correspondence to the former MPs in December 2025, instructing them to vacate the parliamentary villages by the end of January 2026.
"Should they fail to do so, we will urgently approach the High Court for an eviction order with costs against them. No one has a right to occupy State property that they do not qualify for unlawfully," Mabaso asserted.
Attempts to reach all three MPs for comment were unsuccessful. Mfiki did not respond to a media query sent via Facebook, while contact numbers for Mogotsi and Mgwebi could not be obtained. According to Mabaso, the department is not receiving any rental payments from the former MPs.
In a bid to address the issue of individuals occupying parliamentary accommodation without qualification, Mabaso stated, "The department has directed its legal services division to amend its lease agreements with all MPs going forward to include more stringent measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring."
Meanwhile, Macpherson has provided details regarding the expenditure on municipal services, including water, electricity, and sewage removal, incurred at the parliamentary villages over the past two years. The department spent R11,301,239 on municipal water for the financial year 2023/24, an increase from R9,095,335.69 in 2024/25.
Additionally, municipal electricity expenditure for 2023/24 was R10,084,286, up from R9,661,432 in the following financial year. The costs for sewage removal reached R8,665,021 in 2023/24, compared to R7,430,368 in 2024/25.
Macpherson informed Van Staden that costs were only recovered from the illegal residents, who are charged a market-related rental that includes R150 allocated towards municipal services. "The total amount collected over the two previous financial years is R12,300," he said, adding that the department currently has no plans to review the fee.
Historically, all MPs and sessional officials have been exempt from paying municipal service-related costs.
"The department has always been responsible for the payment of municipal services," Macpherson concluded.