The Democratic Alliance's resisting star in parliament, Raenette Taljaart says she is in a predicament regarding her feelings about pubic life.

The feisty MP had to apologise to the DA's parliamentary caucus after missing Tuesday's vote in the national assembly on a package of four bills allowing Mps to defect to another party without losing their seats.

She is apposed to the proposed legislation and is under stood to have boycotted the vote. Taljaart said yesterday she had to apologise to her colleagues for undermining party discipline.

Asked how she felt, she said : "It leaves me in a predicament as to my feelings with regard to public life."

Taljaard, who last year led the DA's component on parliament's watchdog standing committee on public accounts, resigned from the committee in disgust after its controversial handling of the arms deal report. She now serves on the national assembly's finance committee.

DA chief whip Douglas Gibson said another DA MP, Mark Lowe, also had to apologise to the party's caucus for failing to attend the vote.

Taljaart, who last year led the DA's component on parliament's watchdog standing committee on public accounts, resigned from the committee in disgust after its controversial handling of the arms deal report.

She now serves on the national assembly's finance committee.

DA chief whip Douglas Gibson said another DA MP, Mark Lowe, also had to apologise to the party's caucus for failing to attend the vote.

Taljaard was not present for voting on any of the bills, while Lowe voted on the last bill allowing for Mps and MPLs to defect.

Gibson said that at the party's federal congress in Johannesburg earlier this year, 1500 delegates had voted in favour of the defection laws with "two against".

This was repeated at the DA's federal council meeting in Cape Town last week, where 90 delegates voted in favour of the bills and only one or two against.

The bills, apposed by the IFP, UDM, ACDP, FF, PAC and other smaller parties, were nevertheless approved by the ANC majority in parliament with the help of the DA and the NNP.

DA MP Gloria Borman outlined her party's opposition to the legislation, but said despite its concerns, it would vote in favour of it.

The same evening DA leader Tony Leon said his party was not happy with proposed legislation, but had voted in favour of it to prove it had nothing to fear from possible defections.

The bills will be voted on by the National Council of Provinces tomorrow and then sent to President Thabo Mbeki for assent.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Times.