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    Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula

    Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula elected as new Speaker of National Assembly

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    By on World News

    Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has officially been voted as the new Speaker of the National Assembly.

    A total of 298 MPs voted via secret ballot, with Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula receiving 199 votes versus the 82 secured by DA candidate Annelie Lotriet. There was a total of 17 spoilt votes.

    There had been strong objections to Mapisa-Nqakula’s nomination as Speaker, including from opposition parties and some civil society groups.

    In fact, the second-biggest opposition party, the EFF, did not take part in the process.  The EFF claimed their participation would be “rubber-stamping Mr Cyril Ramaphosa’s violation of separation of powers”.

    Opposition parties have condemned her election to lead the legislature, saying she did not acquit herself in her previous positions in the cabinet.

    “For a head of the executive to chop and change the Speaker… as and when he wishes, undermines the spirit of South Africa’s constitutional democracy,” the EFF said in a statement on Wednesday.

    The former defence Minister effectively swapped positions with her predecessor Thandi Modise who was appointed the new minister of defence two weeks ago, after a cabinet re-shuffle by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

    In a statement released by parliament, it said “Ms Mapisa-Nqakula, who hails from the Eastern Cape, is a seasoned legislator who brings a wealth of experience to the position – having been a Member of Parliament from 1999.

    “She has held various positions, including being the Chief whip of the ANC in 2001 and Chairperson of the Joint Standing on Intelligence and Defence.

    “Ms Mapisa-Nqakula has served as a member of the Executive for nearly two-decades, as a Deputy and Minister of Home Affairs, Correctional Services, and Defence and Military Veterans.”

    Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula extends hand of cooperation to all

    In her inaugural speech as the Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula described Parliament as the last line of defence of the country’s constitutional democracy.

    “I extend a hand of cooperation to each member and each political party represented in the House and pledge to protect the integrity and the mandate of the House, together with each one of you, without fear or favour,” she said during her speech.

    She urged all parties to collaborate in service to the people of South Africa, and pledged to ensure that fairness and integrity of Parliament is protected and promoted without fear of favour.

    Mapisa-Nqakula is the seventh Speaker since the dawn of democracy, six of whom were women Speakers.

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