By Deon de Lange and Sibusiso Ngalwa
In the National Assembly, the floor-crossing circus is already in full swing with at least two political parties taking steps to limit the potential damage political trapeze artists could inflict on them.
The Independent Democrats (ID) have taken disciplinary measures against members suspected of planning to cross the floor when the window period begins on September 1.
ID MP Florence Batyi - the latest casualty of this campaign - was informed of her expulsion on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, senior members of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), including former leader Clarence Makwetu, have been meeting urgently to address persistent rumours that a number of its representatives were considering joining a new party, the African Revolutionary Party.
ID spokesperson Steven Otter on Monday confirmed that Batyi was expelled "with immediate effect" on Sunday and that disciplinary steps were to be taken against her.
Although a date for the disciplinary hearing has not yet been determined, Otter explained that it would be based on section 111.3 of the party's constitution which states that "any member who joins another political party or who is proved to have assisted in the formation of another political party may be summarily expelled".
Batyi on Monday denied she was planning to jump ship and successfully applied for an urgent interdict in the Cape High Court preventing the party from swearing in a new MP to take up her seat.
According to Batyi, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete would be handed legal documents regarding the matter on Tuesday.
"I received a text message on my cellphone at 8.25 last night (Sunday) informing me of my expulsion," she said on Monday.
The message explained that the ID had dropped off the expulsion documents at Batyi's official residence at Acacia Park parliamentary village three days previously, but had been unable to reach her to confirm she had received them.
"I have been at my home in Beaufort West. I called one of my children to go to Acacia Park, open the documents and read the contents to me.
"It all came as a big surprise, since I have repeatedly made it clear to the party that I was not planning to cross the floor," Batyi explained.
Otter suggested that Batyi would be better served by first exhausting all "internal processes" available to her before turning to the courts.
This follows a statement on Monday by ID chief whip Lance Greyling that floor crossers would leave the party "with only their jackets".
"The ID regards the upcoming floor-crossing period as a cleansing and attrition process, where we will rid ourselves of all the rotten apples in our party," he said.
At the same time, party leader Patricia de Lille is going to extra-ordinary lengths to prevent ID councillors in Cape Town from defecting, by offering amnesty - and even financial assistance - to members planning to jump ship.
Batyi made it clear on Monday that she was not going to take the expulsion lying down.
"Ag, this is all based on gossip. Now they have chased me away, but I am not going to sit and die at home," she said.