By Murray Williams
The ID has defended its decision to bump a respected candidate out of the Western Cape legislature, in favour of leader Patricia de Lille's sister, Sarah Paulse.
Brett Herron, director of the South African Law School, was second on the ID's provincial election list, and so due to become an MPL along with Izak Jenner, when the ID won two seats in the elections.
Herron's name appeared on the Independent Electoral Commission's lists for the legislature, confirming this.
Herron was also praised by a party source for having worked tirelessly for the ID in the run-up to the elections.
However, Paulse was sworn in last Wednesday - prompting allegations that the ID had improperly shafted Herron.
De Lille, Paulse and Herron refused to comment on the matter on Thursday.
Instead, the move was defended by the party's national secretary-general, Haniff Hoosen.
He explained that the party had been obliged to look again its lists around the country after the election results had been finalised.
They had made changes to ensure proper "representativity" across the country.
He suggested this was a "normal occurrence" practised to some degree by most political parties.
Hoosen said he had met Herron and explained that the party did not wish him to serve as an MPL.
In response, Herron had tendered a letter of resignation, as requested.
Asked if it was problematic that the beneficiary of this decision was De Lille's sister, Hoosen said: "It was never a consideration. Whichever woman had been next on the list would have been appointed.
"Patricia is 10 times more difficult with her own sister than anyone else," he said, in response to concerns about possible nepotism, as alleged to the Cape Argus by several sources.