Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been elected as the new Speaker of the National Assembly.
The election comes after Thandi Modise resigned
as Speaker following President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her as the new Defence
and Military Veterans Minister
After a voting process that lasted for over
three hours, Mapisa-Nqakula was elected after she received 199 votes out of a
total of 298 votes cast during a secret ballot. Dr. Annelie Lotriet MP, who was
a nominee from the main opposition DA, received 82 votes, while 17 ballots were
spoilt.
She is the seventh Speaker since a Democratic
South Africa, six of whom were women Speaker’s.
Addressing the National Assembly sitting for
the first time as Speaker on Thursday afternoon, Mapisa-Nqakula described Parliament as the
last line of defence of the country's constitutional democracy. 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.
PICTURED: Done By: Mitchum George
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