The National Assembly is expected to elect a new Speaker on Thursday.
The position became vacant following the recent appointment of former Speaker Thandi Modise into the Cabinet.
The election will be done via secret ballot at three sites in order to observe COVID-19 protocols as all members will be present physically.
The African National Congress (ANC) has nominated former Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to succeed Modise.
But, Mapisa-Nqakula is expected to face a challenge from the opposition benches.
The former minister served as ANC Chief Whip in 2001.
She is expected to be contested by a Democratic Alliance (DA) candidate.
Some parties such as the United Democratic Movement (UDM) say there is still a dark cloud hanging over her as she is being investigated by the Joint Defence Committee for alleged corruption.
Meanwhile, a group called the New Nation Movement has reiterated that it will take the appointment of Mapisa-Nqakula to court if Parliament continues with the process today.
Through its lawyers, they wrote a letter to Parliament raising their grievances.
Parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says it is bizarre that a legal firm would want to stop the proceedings of Parliament.
The Movement’s Bulelani Mkhohliswa says, “If the ANC does go ahead end up having Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as the new Speaker of Parliament, then we [are] going to challenge this legally just using our constitutional rights.”
Letter to the National Assembly to stop the election of the new Speaker: Lukhona Mguni.
EFF to not participate in the election of National Assembly
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it will not participate in the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
In a statement, the party says it won’t rubber-stamp a decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which it says is a violation of the separation of powers.
The party adds that it will consult its legal team to establish whether it is permissible for a head of state and government to remove the head of another division of the state, such as Parliament.
In the video below, EFF Treasurer-General Omphile Maotwe explains:
![[File Image] President Cyril Ramaphosa replies to Questions for Oral Reply in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Parliament, Cape Town.](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NCOP-GCIS-120x86.jpg)
