ANC’s Thoko Didiza is new speaker of Parliament
Thoko Didiza has been elected to lead Parliament as speaker of the National Assembly.
Thoko Didiza, the former minister of agriculture in the previous administration, has been elected as speaker of the National Assembly
After a secret ballot vote by the newly sworn in members of Parliament (MPs), the ANC’s Didiza beat Veronica Mente of the Economic Freedom Fighters by 284 votes to 49 votes during the first sitting of Parliament. Nine votes were spoiled.
The National Assembly elects Thoko Didiza as Speaker of the 7th Parliament.#7thParliament#SouthAfrica30
— The Presidencypic.twitter.com/hfDhSm05zk
Thoko Didiza expresses gratitude
In her acceptance speech, Didiza paid homage to the ANC and other parties that voted for her.
“I would like to thank all of you as members who have participated in the democratic process of electing the speaker of the National Assembly in the seventh Parliament of the Republic of South Africa.
“I would like to thank my organisation, the African National Congress, for having nominated me to represent them as a movement and also the people of South Africa,” she said to MPs.
DA-ANC deal pays off
Victory was a certainty after the ANC and DA announced that they would be voting along the same lines, as part of a coalition.
“The DA has reached agreement on the statement of intent for the formation of a government of national unity,” DA leader John Steenhuisen said on Friday afternoon.
