Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane elected new NCOP chair

The ANC MP was elected during the first sitting of the NCOP on Saturday, when 54 permanent delegates representing nine provinces were sworn in.

The sitting was hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, and was presided over by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

Mtsweni-Tsipane was elected unopposed with all nine provinces supporting her nomination.

Mtshweni-Tsipane has been a member of the Mpumalanga provincial legislature since 2014 where she served as the chairperson of various committees, including the Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements Committee. 

Before her appointment as premier, she served as the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 to 2018.

She succeeds Amos Masondo, who had been NCOP chair since 2019.

In her acceptance speech, Mtsweni-Tsipane vowed to keep her door open.

“It with great humility and resolve to honour and assume the position of chairperson in the NCOP during the seventh parliamentary dispensation. 

“It is indeed an honour for me to serve our constitution, which is the base framework for democratic governance in SA.

 “I would like to give my assurance that I will execute my obligations in accordance with the provision of our constitution and to the very best of my ability," said Mtsweni-Tsipane.

Kenneth Mmoiemang, an ANC MP from the Northern Cape, was re-elected ad chief whip.

Mmoiemang has been a permanent delegate to the NCOP since 2019.

He was also  elected unopposed.

In his acceptance speech, he expressed his appreciation to the government of national unity and the ANC for having confidence in him.

"Today marks yet another important milestone after the historic 2024 national and provincial elections.

“It is therefore my contention that turning the local government around should be among the critical tests among which the success of this house should be measured in this seventh democratic parliament," he said.

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