Opposition parties are calling for Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to be probed. Image: X/GovernmentZA.
Mapisa-Nqakula on NA speaker election: ‘I’m particularly emotional’
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been successfully elected as the new speaker of Parliament, taking over the reins from Thandi Modise
Opposition parties are calling for Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to be probed. Image: X/GovernmentZA.
Newly-elected Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has used her maiden speech to acknowledge the magnitude of her role presiding over the National Assembly.
Mapisa-Nqakula emerged victorious in the voting for a new speaker, receiving 199 votes. Voting was done via secret ballot and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Parliament abstained from the voting. The Democratic Alliance (DA) nominated its own candidate, Annelie Lotriet who received 82 votes.
“I am particularly emotional today, having been nominated for this position. I also felt great pride as a member of this House and as a South African observing the exercise of democracy during these proceedings, with all parties, big and small, fully utilising this space to nominate and vote freely for candidates of their choice, for the position of speaker,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
“It is upon this foundation that Parliament has continued to stand as the foremost custodian and protector of our democracy. It is important that this foundation of true democratic participation should never be compromised for personal whims or for narrow political interests. All our people represented wholly by the members deployed from various parties in this Parliament should always feel comfortable that all their interests will have due consideration here”
Parliamentary speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Mapisa-Nqakula is Parliament speaker
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula takes over the reins from Thandi Modise, who was announced as the Defence Minister in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle earlier this month.
Judge president of the Western Cape High Court John Hlophe presided over Thursday’s sitting.
Mapisa-Nqakula further added:
“I return to be part of collective leadership of this national legislature after what can be considered a long stay within the executive branch of government. I therefore fully appreciate the extent of the transition I must personally make in order to fulfil my obligations and those of this house to ensure accountability and oversight of the executive branch”
