Vincent Gore

Vincent Charles Gore (born 23 November 1972) is a South African politician who served in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2009. He represented the Democratic Party (DP) and Democratic Alliance (DA) during his first term, but was elected to his second term under the banner of the Independent Democrats (ID). In September 2007, he crossed the floor from the ID to the African National Congress (ANC).

Early life and career Gore was born on 23 November 1972. He grew up in Sandton, a wealthy suburb of Johannesburg. He was an engineer by profession and began using a wheelchair after a car accident in 1996.

Independent Democrats: 2004–2007 In the run-up to the 2004 general election, a leaked copy of the DA's party list suggested that Gore had been placed in an unelectable position.

During the legislative term that followed, Gore represented the ID as a member of the parliamentary delegation that observed the 2005 Zimbabwean parliamentary elections. The ID withdrew from the delegation in mid-March, with Gore describing it as "a farce and a waste of taxpayers' money", given that "it is quite clear that the upcoming Zimbabwean elections are not going to be free and fair". The leader of the delegation, Mbulelo Goniwe of the ANC, later argued that Gore should compensate Parliament for the costs of his travel since he had absconded voluntarily.

African National Congress: 2007–2009 During the 2005 floor-crossing window, the Mail & Guardian reported that Gore was resisting advances from the DA, which wanted him to return to his former party. However, during the next floor-crossing window in September 2007, Gore resigned from the ID and defected to the ANC. ID leader Patricia de Lille later dismissed Gore's criticism of her leadership style, describing him as "a serial floor-crosser". Gore left the National Assembly after the 2009 general election.