Where will Ginwala go?

Former speaker of the National Assembly Frene Ginwala looks set to be deployed by the organisation but her decision not to take the oath of office as a newly re-elected MP on Friday appears not to have been the decision of the ruling African National Congress.

Ginwala surprised members of the public when she appeared in one of the public gallery areas above the National Assembly for the swearing-in of the members elected on April 14. Ginwala had been high up on the ANC’s list of parliamentary candidates — at number 15.

Ahead of Friday afternoon’s election of president by the national assembly — expected to be ANC leader and incumbent President Thabo Mbeki — ANC national spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said in response to questions about Ginwala’s future: “It is difficult at the present moment. Dr Ginwala has a wealth of experience … rich experience in the history of the movement.”

Ginwala was removed this week as the ANC candidate for the speakership by the national working committee of the ruling party — headed by Mbeki — and its decision was ratified on Thursday by the ANC parliamentary caucus.

Meanwhile, Ginwala – resplendent in a dark navy blue outfit — sat quietly in the gallery above the National Assembly where she had a clear view of Mbeki and his Cabinet members.

When she emerged in the parliamentary corridor she was asked about her future. She said: “I will let you know. I am a South African. I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Ginwala was clearly referring to speculation that she may be given an ambassadorship.

Ginwala also doesn’t look set to be a minister when the new Cabinet is announced next week and she will have to move out of her state mansion on the Groote Schuur ministers’ estate in Cape Town — as a speaker is of Cabinet rank in terms of pay.

Pressed on her future, Ngonyama, who attended the swearing-in ceremony also in the public gallery, said: “Officials of the movement are discussing various options of deployment.”

When it was noted that as she had not been sworn in and was obviously not “staying on” as an ANC MP, he said: “As things stand now I can agree to that … but we don’t know what will be happening tomorrow. The [parliamentary] list is reviewed on an ongoing basis. She might actually come back but for today she is not on the list. She is not a member of Parliament.”

Asked if it was an ANC decision that she should sit in the gallery and not take the oath, he said: “I don’t know what was the final agreement today for her to sit in the gallery. She knows we are looking at various options. We must look at the best area to deploy her.” — I-Net Bridge