WATCH: Thoko Didiza appointed new National Assembly Speaker
The new partnership between the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance and the Inkatha Freedom Party saw Didiza beat the Economic Freedom Fighters’ Veronica Mente by 284 votes to 49.
The moment Thoko Didiza (seated in the centre) was announced as the National Assembly Speaker on 14 June 2024. Picture: Supplied/GCIS
CAPE TOWN - Thoko Didiza is the newly-elected Speaker of the National Assembly (NA).
The new partnership between the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party saw Didiza beat the Economic Freedom Fighters’ Veronica Mente by 284 votes to 49.
Didiza is no stranger to running parliament - having served as a house chairperson in the fifth administration.
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With Didiza having taken the chair as the newly-elected Speaker of the NA - the vote for her deputy is now under way.
Ballots are being prepared for the battle between the DA’s Annelie Lotriet and the African Transformation Movement’s Vuyo Zungula.
Didiza has thanked parties from across the political divide for supporting her nomination - as the new Government of National Unity (GNU) starts to shape up.
“I also commit that I will work with all the parties led by their whips and representatives to make sure we conduct the business of this parliament in a manner that indeed reflects the will of the people of South Africa,” she said.
Didiza is now presiding over the election of her deputy.
It will be the first time since the National Party’s Bhadra Ranchod was elected in May 1994, as part of a GNU that a deputy speaker does not come from the African National Congress.