Cape Town – Former South African defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was elected the National Assembly Speaker on Thursday after she received 199 votes out of a total of 298.
Eighty-two of the votes went to the Democratic Alliance candidate Annelie Lotriet.
There were 17 spoilt ballots.
The vacancy was created when former Speaker Thandi Modise was appointed defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this month.
Voting was done by way of secret ballot after the official opposition DA fielded an opposing candidate.
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“I sincerely felt humbled to be nominated… I am particularly emotional today having been nominated for this position. I also felt great pride as a member of this house and as a South African observing this moment. It is upon this foundation that Parliament has stood,” Mapisa-Nqakula said just after her election.
Earlier, reports indicated that Parliament had received a letter of demand to prevent Mapisa-Nqakula’s election as Speaker, with political parties and civil organisations saying she was not a suitable candidate.
A News24 report said that Mapisa-Nqakula was under investigation for allegedly receiving a R5 million bribe from a defence contractor, blowing R7 million on aircraft charters, and living it up at luxury hotels.
Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence appointed a task team to investigate the allegations against her two months ago, the report said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
