The South African structure does not provide any clarity on the nature of the relationship between extra-parliamentary political parties and their elected representatives in the national and provincial legislatures. Can extra-parliamentary leaders of political parties dictate to their MPs how to exercise their constitutional duties,including their duty to vote in a motion of no confidence against the president? whether parties can dictate to their MPs, it means that power shifts from the democratically elected legislature to the leadership of the governing party which, and at most,is “elected” by a few thousand carefully selected party members (possibly after money has changed hands to sway that “vote”).
Source: dailymaverick.co.za