Drama! Late bid to stop Mapisa-Nqakula becoming Speaker launched

The DA has thrown a spanner in the works at the eleventh hour for the ANC’s Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, after the party decided to nominate their own candidate as House Speaker. The Parliamentary Election, taking place on Thursday, looked like it would be a simple procession for the recently-fired minister – but things have changed.

House Speaker Elections: Who is Annelie Lotriet, the DA nominee challenging Mapisa-Nqakula?

Natasha Mazzone, Chief Whip of the DA, says that the party will nominate Annelie Lotriet to challenge Mapisa-Nqakula. They are hopeful that their candidate will benefit from a ‘secret ballot’, allowing dissenting ANC members to vote against one of their own without fear of political reprisal. Mazzone set out her case for Lotriet in this statement:

“In today’s election of the Speaker of the National Assembly in Parliament, the DA will put forth our Parliamentary Caucus Chairperson, Dr Annelie Lotriet, as our candidate for the position. She has previously served exemplary as the DA Shadow Minister for Science and Technology, Higher Education and Training, as well as Arts and Culture.”

“The ANC’s candidate Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, on the other hand, is the least suitable candidate for the position. She has a litany of allegations of misconduct against her. Her years as Defence Minister – a position she has finally and thankfully been fired from – has proven beyond reasonable doubt that she cannot be entrusted with the responsibility.”

Parliamentary nominee under fire

Needless to say, Mapisa-Nqakula is a controversial choice of Speaker. Amongst other things, she has been accused of:

• SMUGGLING in a Congolese woman, rumoured to be dating her son, via a SAAF jet.
• VIOLATING lockdown laws to fly to Zimbabwe and talk with ZANU-PF members.
• WHITEWASHING a report to excuse soldiers from any blame, following the death of Collins Khosa last year.
• WASTING R215 million on a bogus COVID-19 treatment from Cuba.
• ACCEPTING bribes and spending up to R7 million on luxury hotels, wigs, and top-class flights.

What is more, she has essentially been rewarded for ‘failing upwards’. Mapisa-Nqakula suffered the indignity of being the only minister to actually get dismissed from her post in Cabinet during the recent reshuffle. However, with the ANC’s cadre deployment game remaining strong, she has not had to wait long for another shot at the big time.

Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Dr Annelie Lotriet duly nominated. Judge Hlophe call for the voting process to be conducted by a way of a secret ballot. #ElectionofSpeaker

— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) August 19, 2021