1) If a Member is absent for 15 or more consecutive sitting days of the Assembly or the Council, without authorisation, the Member loses his/her seat. 2) If a Member is absent from 3 consecutive meetings of a committee to which he/she is appointed as a full Member, outside of a sanctioned absence agreed to by the Member's political party, a sanction may be applied to the Member by either the Assembly or the Council to the effect of a fine of R1000 for each day of absence. The Rules must provide for such a monetary sanction to be imposed. 3) In the case of the Council if a Member is absent during a "three-line whip" without being on authorized leave in terms of this policy sanctions may be applied to the Member by the Council. 4) This policy does not replace any procedures established by any of the Houses to be followed in the investigation and determination of allegations of misconduct and contempt of Parliament.
