Former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will be the next Speaker of the National Assembly.
Her pending deployment was announced at a meeting of the African National Congress (ANC)’s top leaders on Tuesday morning.
Speculation over Mapisa-Nqakula’s future started immediately after President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his Cabinet last week.
Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli had been holding down the fort in an acting capacity since Thandi Modise was promoted to Cabinet as defence minister.
This followed weeks of speculation about Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s future following last month’s failed insurrection where she contradicted Ramaphosa’s characterization of the criminal rampage.
The ANC’s Nomfanelo Kota said that the party would today, in a virtual caucus, discuss the process around the election of the new Speaker.
Parliament said that a date for the election would be determined through consultations.
Should there be more than one nominee for the position of Speaker, there will be a vote by secret ballot.
-EWN
In other news – Emotional video of Lady Du mourning Mpura & Killer Kau’s death leaves Mzansi in tears
It was a very emotional day yesterday and the sentiments are still the same today. The music fraternity especially Amapiano, is mourning the loss of artists who had a very promising future in the industry.
Killer Kau and Mpura as well as 3 other people lost their lives due to a head-on collision which also allegedly saw the driver of the other car losing their lives. First to break the news was Amapiano vocalist Lady Du who later deleted her Instagram post after getting dragged. Learn More
