Cape Town — The African National Congress (ANC) announced that 31 current leaders in the party will not be returning to parliament as they will be retiring after the 2024 elections.
Pravin Gordhan announced yesterday that he will be retiring after the elections have been completed to focus on his health and family. He joins a list of other politicians who have already announced their retirement.
According to IOL, Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula announced during the opening of parliament hat she will retire after the elections, while Minister in the Presidency for Women and Children, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,said she was not going back to parliament after serving in government since President Nelson Mandela’s cabinet. Intenrational Relations Minister, Naledi Pandor, will also retire after the elections.
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsisi said the identities of the 31 parliamentarians will be known after the party makes its list available to the public.
“The Electoral Committee received 2457 candidates nominated for national Parliament…284 Candidates were interviewed by the Electoral Committee. On the final lists submitted: 52.5% are women, we have increased youth representation to 17%, the list has ensured the deliberate… pic.twitter.com/khHurvxFq4
— African National Congress (@MYANC) March 8, 2024
“Thirty one comrades declined nomination, amongst those are comrades who have served the movement admirably for decades and to whom we owe a sincere debt of gratitude for their contribution to shaping the first 30 years of South African democracy,” she said.
With the announcement of the 31 retiring members, the ANC expects an influx of new, young members. The party said it received more than 2 400 nominations for its public representative seats in Parliament and provincial legislatures, with 52% of the final list made up of women, EWN reported. Bhengu-Motsiri said the party also increased its youth representation.
“I’m anticipating some of the youngest ministers, going in that direction, which is why you’re going to see socialists advancing developmental work or developmental economics as part of the work of the ANC, which is why you’re going to see some that have been there before in the interest of continuity and change.” she said.
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Picture: X/@BhenguMahlengi
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
