The National Council of Provinces brought an end to floor crossing on Wednesday, six years after controversial measures allowing politicians to swap allegiance without losing their seats first came into law.

The House unanimously passed three bills — the Constitution 14th and 15th amendment bills, and the General Laws Amendment Bill — that scrap floor crossing at all levels of government.

"The sight, particularly at a local government level, of people swapping parties merely for the sake of positions and for their own self-interest, was an unedifying one," Deputy Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Johnny de Lange told members.

Since floor-crossing was first introduced in 2002, 1417 politicians have crossed the floor — 55 MPs, 60 MPLs, and 1302 local government councillors.

It was, De Lange said, "an experiment that was necessary at the time".

The bills will now go to President Kgalema Motlanthe for signing into law.

Sapa