By Zukile Majova
South Africans have witnessed the first cooperation between the ANC and the DA in the Government of National Unity (GNU) with the nomination of Thoko Didiza as the speaker of the National Assembly.
The nomination is expected to be backed by the ANC, DA, IFP, PA and other parties that support the GNU.
The GNU partners have most of the votes, with the ANC having 159 seats, the DA 87, IFP 17, and PA nine.
Didiza is the former minister of agriculture, land reform, and rural development. Previously, she was the minister of land affairs and public works.
She was in Nelson Mandela’s GNU in 1994 as the deputy minister of agriculture.
Vuyo Zungula, the president of the ATM, nominated EFF national chairperson Veronica Mente for speaker.
The nomination was supported by UDM president Bantu Holomisa.
The UDM is part of a new coalition at work under the banner of the Progressive Caucus, which also comprises the EFF, ATM, Al Jama-ah, UAT and PAC.
The group of black parties opposes the ANC’s preparation of the GNU. They say Cyril Ramaphosa’s GNU is simply a grand coalition of the DA and a few others.
The DA, the official opposition for over two decades, did not field a candidate for speaker.
Instead, it is expected to nominate DA MP Annelie Lotriet as deputy speaker.
With two candidates nominated for the position of speaker, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has ordered voting through a secret ballot system.
Pictured above: Thoko Didiza and Veronica Mente.
Source: X
