Cape Town — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested the National Assembly (NA) act swiftly to appoint a new speaker following the resignation of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
The party’s chief whip, Siviwe Gwarube, said they’ve received feedback from Parliament’s Xolile George, who has referred the matter to the NA programme committee for its consideration. The party hopes the the committee will deal with its request as early as next week, EWN reported.
Gwarube says they will put forward a compelling candidate and requests that it be done through a secret ballot.
“The great thing about the election of a speaker is that it’s done by a secret ballot. So it’s important that we put forward a compelling candidate. It’s important that we canvass the views of other political parties.”
In an a DA statement released last week, the party will be probing the NA’s powers and privileges comitee and the National Council of Province’s Standing Committee about its investigations into Mapisa-Nqakula and chairperson Masondo relating to the salary hike scandal.
“To this day, the House is still none the wiser about how a 70% salary hike was approved by the two Executive Authorities. That matter still needs to be investigated and an outcome reached.” Gwarube said.
She backed this view up in an X post.
@ParliamentofRSA cannot leave the matter of the salary to the Secretary to Parliament go; regardless of the fact that Ms Mapisa – Nqakula has resigned.
Why was the salary hiked from R2.6m to almost R5m?
Who approved it?
Why was Parliament/ MPs misled about this? https://t.co/akuCYoIFX9
— Siviwe Gwarube (@Siviwe_G) April 12, 2024
DA Chief Whip @Siviwe_G, asserts that Parliament Secretary Xolile George will not be let off the hook for his nearly 70% salary hike, even with the resignation of former Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
Watch: https://t.co/PDxxjyWbYa#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/OON0rSI9Of
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) April 12, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
