Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa

Last updated

Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa
Minister Thoko Didiza.png
Incumbent
Thoko Didiza
since 14 June 2024
National Assembly of South Africa
Style Honorable Speaker
Type Presiding officer of one chamber in a bicameral legislature
Residence Cape Town
AppointerElected by members of the National Assembly
Formation1854
First holder Christoffel Brand
DeputyDeputy Speaker of the National Assembly
Annelie Lotriet
SalaryR3,164‚654.00 a year
Website https://www.parliament.gov.za/na-presiding-officers

The speaker of the National Assembly presides over the National Assembly of South Africa, the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa.

Contents

The office of speaker of the National Assembly was preceded by the offices of speaker of the House of Assembly (1910–1984) under the 1909 and 1961 constitutions and speaker of Parliament under the Tricameral Parliament (1984–1994).

Background

The speaker is chosen from among the members of the Assembly at its first sitting following a general election and whenever the office is vacant. [1] The speaker acts as a "referee", taking charge of debates to make sure that the MPs can participate freely while keeping to the rules. The speaker also has managerial duties to ensure that Parliament runs smoothly. Each political party in the Assembly elects a chief whip to run its affairs. The presiding officers, the chief whips, and the leader of government business (the person appointed by the Cabinet to liaise with Parliament) together decide on the programme of work.

Selection

The speaker of the National Assembly is elected to and removed from office in terms of S52 of the Constitution. In terms of this section the:

Mandate

The speaker's mandate is twofold. It is constitutional and institutional. This mandate is furthermore dual at the National Assembly and Parliamentary level. In both situations, it involves interacting with the following sectors of the global community:

List of speakers (1854–present)

Cape House of Assembly (1854–1910)

No.Name
(Birth–Death)
PortraitTerm of office
1 Sir Christoffel Brand
(1797–1875)
Sir Christoffel Brand00.jpg 1854–1873
2 Sir David Tennant
(1829–1905)
David Tennant - Speaker of the Cape Parliament - Cape Colony.jpg 1874–1895
3 Sir Henry Juta
(1875–1930)
Cape Speaker Henry Juta - P Tennyson-Cole.png 1896–1898
4 Sir Bisset Berry
(1839–1922)
Wm Bisset Berry - Cape Speaker of Parliament - Photo Duffus CT.jpg 1899–1907
5 James Tennant Molteno
(1865–1936)
Sir James Molteno - retired Speaker of Parliament RSA.jpg 1907–1910

House of Assembly (1910–1994)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Sir James Molteno - retired Speaker of Parliament RSA.jpg Sir James Tennant Molteno
(1865–1936) [2]
1 November 191018 November 19155 years, 17 days South African Party
2 No image.png Joel Krige
(1866–1933)
19 November 191524 July 19248 years, 248 days South African Party
3 EG Jansen 1949.jpg Ernest George Jansen
(1881–1959)
25 July 192419 June 19294 years, 329 days National Party
4 No image.png Jan Hendrick Hofmeyr de Waal
(1871–1937)
19 July 192925 May 19333 years, 310 days National Party
(3) EG Jansen 1949.jpg Ernest George Jansen
(1881–1959)
26 May 193321 January 194410 years, 240 days National Party
(until 1934)
United Party
(from 1934)
5 No image.png Clifford Meyer van Coller
(1876–1977)
22 January 19445 August 19484 years, 196 days United Party
6 Tom Naude 1962.jpg Jozua François Naudé
(1889–1969)
6 August 19487 November 19502 years, 93 days National Party
7 No image.png Johannes Conradie
(1897–1966)
19 January 195131 December 19609 years, 347 days National Party
8 No image.png Henning Johannes Klopper
(1895–1985)
20 January 19611 August 197413 years, 193 days National Party
9 No image.png Alwyn Schlebusch
(1917–2008)
2 August 197425 January 19761 year, 176 days National Party
10 No image.png Jannie Loots  [ af ]
(1914–1998)
26 January 197630 July 19815 years, 186 days National Party
11 No image.png J. P. du Toit 31 July 198113 February 19831 year, 197 days National Party
12 No image.png Johan Greeff
(1921–2004)
14 February 198331 December 19863 years, 320 days National Party
13 No image.png Louis le Grange
(1928–1991)
1 January 198726 October 19914 years, 298 days National Party
14 No image.png Gene Louw
(1931–2015)
14 November 19919 May 19942 years, 176 days National Party

National Assembly (1994–present)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 No image.png Frene Ginwala
(1932–2023)
9 May 199412 July 200410 years, 64 days African National Congress
2 Baleka Mbete.jpg Baleka Mbete
(born 1949)
12 July 200425 September 20084 years, 75 days African National Congress
3 No image.png Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde
(born 1955)
25 September 20086 May 2009223 days African National Congress
4 Max Sisulu (1985).jpg Max Sisulu
(born 1945)
6 May 200921 May 20145 years, 15 days African National Congress
(2) Baleka Mbete.jpg Baleka Mbete
(born 1949)
21 May 201422 May 20195 years, 1 day African National Congress
5 Spotkanie premier Beaty Szydlo z Thandi Modise (cropped).jpg Thandi Modise
(born 1959)
22 May 20195 August 20212 years, 75 days African National Congress
6 Panetta and Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula (cropped).jpg Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
(born 1956)
19 August 20213 April 20242 years, 228 days African National Congress
7 Minister Thoko Didiza.png Thoko Didiza
(born 1965)
14 June 2024Incumbent179 days African National Congress

See also

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References

  1. "The Speakers Corner" . Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  2. From 1911, Sir James Tennant Molteno