The United Democratic Movement suffered a major blow when six of its MPs defected to the African National Congress, leaving the party with four of its original 14 seats in the national assembly.
Six of the MPs who defected to the ANC on Tuesday included senior party representatives such as chief whip Cedrick Frolick, national treasurer Tommy Abrahams, chairperson of the UDM caucus Salam Abram and deputy whip Annelize van Wyk.
The other two MPs are Lucas Mbadi and Welsh Makanda.
Their departure comes a day after deputy leader of the UDM Gerhard Kotze defected to the ANC.
The six announced that they had crossed the floor at a press conference on Tuesday called by ANC chief whip Nathi Nhleko.
Abram, speaking on behalf of the defectors, said their decision to join the ANC was well-considered and was a result of "intensive soul searching".
"It is the expression of our collective resolve and commitment to building a new South Africa.
"Our move is testimony that a stage in history has now been reached when we must pool our resources and tackle the challenges that lie ahead. It is the patriotic thing to do," he said.
The UDM last year mounted a million rand unsuccessful constitutional court challenge to the floor-crossing legislation. Asked how he could use the same floor crossing legislation to defect, Abram said not everyone in the UDM had supported the "questionable" court action.
Frolick implied that the court challenge had been imposed on the party by its top leadership.
Abram said the UDM should reassess its role considering the needs and requirements of the country today. He said he did not see much of a future for the UDM.
There have been intense behind-the-scenes moves from all parties to woo MPs to cross the floor during the 15-day defection window period.
Van Wyk confirmed that she and her colleagues had been invited to defect to the DA as well as other parties but she said the UDM had always been closer to the ANC than to the DA.
She said she had not opted to join the DA because it was "polarising South African politics" and on the evidence of recent defectors from the NNP, the DA had become the party of "pale males".
UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa said he felt "betrayed" by the defections of his senior leadership. The decision to challenge the floor-crossing legislation had been almost unanimous in his caucus, he said.
Holomisa was, however, in no doubt about the future viability of the UDM.
"These defectors leave only with their jackets and briefcases," said Holomisa, who felt they had very little support on the ground. He berated the fact that they had nullified the votes of about 400 000 voters. - Political Bureau