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South Africa: New Speaker of Parliament Has Sparked Controversy - for Good Reason
The Conversation Africa, 25 August 2021
On Thursday 19 August the members of South Africa's National Assembly convened physically for the first time in a while. They met in several locations in parliament to achieve… Read more »
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South Africa: In South Africa's National Assembly, a New Broom Does Not Guarantee a Clean House
Daily Maverick, 22 August 2021
New leadership at the National Assembly doesn't change lackadaisicalness. Read more »
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South Africa: New Speaker Vows to Ensure NA Exercises Robust Accountability and Oversight Over the Executive
Parliament of South Africa, 19 August 2021
In the wake of the appointment of the former Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Ms Thandi Modise, as the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, the position of the Speaker… Read more »
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South Africa: New National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Extends 'Hand of Cooperation' to All
Daily Maverick, 19 August 2021
No surprises scuttled the election of ex-defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as National Assembly Speaker with 199 votes of the 298 cast, including 17 spoiled ballots. But… Read more »
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South Africa: National Assembly Elects Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula As Speaker
Parliament of South Africa, 19 August 2021
A Special sitting of the National Assembly (NA) has elected Ms Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula as new Speaker of the House this afternoon. Read more »
South Africans Divided Over New Speaker of Parliament
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been elected to serve as Speaker of Parliament after being dropped from the Cabinet after an utterly undistinguished period of 15 years as a minister in three portfolios, writes Hugh Corder for The Conversation.
Mapisa-Nqakula is the subject of investigation by a parliamentary committee for alleged unethical conduct, and she's been under a cloud for unaccountable and suspect misuse of her authority a number of times.
In her acceptance remarks, Mapisa-Nqakula stated that she was humbled by the confidence shown in her by the African National Congress. She said an open voting process has once again demonstrated the open and democratic nature and vibrancy of our democratic order. "It's this open and democratic process upon which our parliamentary democracy was founded," she said.
She vowed that she would ensure that Parliament's mandate would not be comprised for narrow party political ends. "I will ensure that Parliament remains the last line of defence of our democracy."
She assured the South African public that she recognises the need on her part to make a swift transition to ensure "I make it my responsibility to ensure that Parliament exercises robust accountability and oversight over the executive".
