Mapisa-Nqakula R2.3 million bribe

Opposition parties are calling for Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to be probed. Image: X/GovernmentZA.

Mapisa-Nqakula elected Speaker – but some ANC MPs *didn’t* vote for her

The House has a new Speaker, and it’s Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. However, it would appear that some ANC MPs haven’t given her their backing.

Mapisa-Nqakula R2.3 million bribe

Opposition parties are calling for Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to be probed. Image: X/GovernmentZA.

In the end, it was the definition of a cakewalk for Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. The recently fired minister has been parachuted into another cushy gig, and she will now take the reins as Parliament’s new Speaker of the House. However, it seems that she doesn’t enjoy universal support from her own party.

Who is Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula?

The ANC has a total of 230 MPs in Parliament, occupying 400 seats which make-up our elected representatives. We had it confirmed earlier that an overwhelming majority of these ANC politicians would be in the building to vote. It’s also estimated that ‘well over 200’ of them turned up on Thursday – which makes these final totals look very interesting.

Mapisa-Nqakula claimed 199 votes, to Annelie Lotriet’s 82. That’s 67% of the vote against 28% of the vote, and by any definition, it’s a landslide. But NMN fell short of the total number of ANC members inside Parliament.

New Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula ‘not fully backed’ by ANC

What is more, a total of 17 ballots were ‘spoiled’ by MPs in attendance – either due to a genuine mistake, or a deliberate act of rebellion. It’s quite possible that some within the ANC didn’t feel comfortable with their controversial choice of speaker, but also didn’t believe that they could back a DA candidate.

The vote was held as a secret ballot, meaning we cannot definitely know which MPs may have broken ranks and failed to register a vote for their chosen candidate. With both the EFF and UDM avoiding the proceedings today, almost 50 MPs had deliberately boycotted Parliament. But their coalition of votes wouldn’t have made a difference in the end.

As we’ve explained earlier today, Mapisa-Nqakula is something of a magnet for controversy. But following her error-strewn stewardship of the Defence Minister, she has another chance to prove herself – right inside the lion’s den.

How hard can it be? Oh wait, we remember now…