The ANC is planning to nominate its national executive committee (NEC) member, Thoko Didiza, for the position of National Assembly speaker, Sunday World has learned.
This comes after the ANC NEC met last night in Cape Town to receive a briefing on the government of national unity (GNU) framework and guidelines.
At the meeting, the issue of names of people was not discussed to avoid internal divisions, and the issue was left in the turf of the national officials.
Impeccable sources have since briefed this publication that Didiza was going to stand for the position of speaker while President Cyril Ramaphosa would be fielded for a second term at the Union Buildings.
Antagonising the DA
The first sitting of the National Assembly, where the election of speaker, deputy speaker, and president, is being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre,.
Our informants added that the ANC would give the position of deputy speaker to the small parties.
On Thursday night, the EFF indicated that it would accept the position of its national chairperson, Veronica Mente.
But others within the ANC top brass have expressed concern that fielding a National Assembly speaker while also taking the position of president might antagonise the DA, which has agreed to join the GNU.
“We are going with Thoko Didiza for the position of speaker. We cannot give control of the legislature to the opposition, but we will give the position of deputy speaker to the small parties,” said our deep throat.
DA keeps cards close to its chest
According to the briefing, the DA, which has been reported to be eyeing the position of speaker, would be accommodated in the national executive.
“But I do not know how we will navigate that because, in the national executive, we are also not going to surrender the economic and security cluster,” another ANC leader said.
The DA has been keeping its card close to its chest heading to the all-important first sitting of the National Assembly, the first since 1994 with the ANC without an outright majority.
Mdumiseni Ntuli is apparently the favourite for the hot seat of chief whip, taking over from controversial Pemmy Majodina.
