African National Congress Chief Whip, Pemmy Majodina, has expressed confidence in the COVID-19 health and safety protocols put in place ahead of Thursday’s election of a new National Assembly Speaker.
Former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been nominated by the ANC for the position.
This after former Speaker Thandi Modise was appointed as the new Defence Minister.
The election will be done via secret ballot with COVID-19 protocols observed.
Majodina elaborates on the precautionary measures taken.
“I am very much confident. All the safety protocols have been put in place. I was here on Wednesday doing a dry run. We are going to social distance, sanitise and wear masks to ensure we don’t compromise members.”
“When voting comes, they will come in batches of 10. Not everybody will be flocking into the voting booths,” she adds.
The video below details a timeline of previous speakers of the National Assembly since the advent of democracy and a preview of election process:
Meanwhile, the ANC caucus has refuted claims by opposition parties that the nomination of Mapisa-Nqakula as the Speaker of the National Assembly is rubber-stamping the decision of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) refuses to participate in Thursday’s election while the Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will put its own candidate forward.
A group called the New Nation Movement is threatening legal action if she is elected, claiming that she is not fit for the position because of corruption allegations against her.
Mapisa-Nqakula has been nominated by the ANC caucus.
