Political parties intensify calls for investigation into new Speaker, Mapisa-Nqakula

Mapisa-Nqakula was elected as the head of the NA on Thursday afternoon in a landslide win against her opponent Annelie Lotriet, a member of the Democratic Alliance.

While some parties were unsurprised by the outcome of the election, they haven’t held back about their unhappiness. 

DA chief whip, Natasha Mazzone believes Mapisa-Nqakula will cast a shadow on the NA’s accountability and transparency.

“It is an indictment on the ANC and highlights their determination to render Parliament into a toothless institution,” says Mazzone.

“The DA maintains that Mapisa-Nqakule is unfit for the position of Speaker and that her election makes a complete mockery of Parliament and its principles of transparency, accountability and integrity,” Mazzone adds.

ALSO READ:

The Freedom Front (FF) Plus holds the same view.

“The FF Plus is entirely opposed to Mapisa-Nqakula's election for a number of reasons,” says chief whip, Corne Mulder. 

“Her statement that she will, with the cooperation of the other Members of Parliament, protect the integrity of the NA is ironic. She is already shrouded in controversy and has, among other things, abused her position as Minister of Defence.”

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) wants Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence to speed up its investigations of bribery and extortion into Mapisa-Nqakula.

“We hope she gives her fullest cooperation to those kinds of investigations that will ensue,” says chief whip, Narend Singh. 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) elected not to take part in Thursday’s proceedings, claiming the ANC’s arrangement was a sham.