Date for national speaker election announced
The National Assembly has announced next Thursday as the date of the election of a new Speaker.
The date was proposed at a meeting of the National Assembly’s programming committee on Thursday morning. Last week, the African National Congress nominated the former defence minister, Nosivo Mapisa Nqakula as their preferred candidate for the position. Opposition parties are anticipated to go against the ruling party and nominate theirs.
Secretary to the National Assembly, Masibulele Xaso: “Where there is more than one nomination the Constitution prescribes that the voting must be by secret ballot – for that reason, we are busy with preparations as if there is going to be a secret ballot.
“A secret ballot procedure, by its nature, will require the physical presence of members to cast their votes as prescribed in the election rules and this will necessitate measures to ensure all COVID-19 protocols are strictly adhered to, especially social-distancing,” he added.
The date must now be confirmed with the office of the Chief Justice
