African National Congress MP Mpho Scott will quit Parliament at the end of the month for a job in the business world, the party announced on Thursday.

Scott, who chaired the National Assembly's home affairs committee and oversaw the rocky passage of the Immigration Bill through Parliament, would join black economic empowerment company Africa Legends Energy as its executive chairman.

The company recently bought a 25 percent stake in Caltex SA.

Scott joins a host of ANC MPs who have left Parliament for the private sector.

ANC chief whip Nathi Nhleko described Scott as a hardworking member of the party, but said his departure was not a total loss to the ANC.

"The area of his new responsibility is in line with our policies around the issue of black economic empowerment."
Nhleko said Scott's replacement would be announced soon.

United Democratic Movement home affairs spokesman Annelize van Wyk said Scott's departure was bad news and a great disappointment.

"The committee itself was just getting focused on getting its work done in a sensible manner, where party politics and individual personalities played a very small role."
Whoever was appointed to replace him must be focused on the job itself, Van Wyk said.

"The previous chair, Aubrey Mokoena, was incapable of chairing the committee. It is especially concerning that he (Scott) has left, because we have to look at important legislation this year on child pornography and the elections." - Sapa.