The ruling African National Congress’s Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu has been elected unopposed as the new chairperson of the second chamber of South Africa’s Parliament, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
His election was presided over by Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson. He was nominated by the ANC chief whip in the House, Buti Johsephn Mkhaliphi, and seconded by Northern Cape Premier Dipuo Peters.
He replaces the late Joyce Kgoali, who died last year.
Mahlangu was first elected to the National Assembly in 1994 but became deputy chairperson of the NCOP in 2002 after serving as the chairperson of committees.
The 52-year-old, who holds a BA degree from the University of Fairfax, is a former co-chairperson of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa. He was elected in September last year as one of five representatives from the South African Parliament to represent South Africa in the Pan African Parliament.
His election was welcomed by other political parties in the house, including the Democratic Alliance, the Independent Democrats, the New National Party and the Inkatha Freedom Party.
The NCOP represents the interests of the nine provinces in the parliamentary system and includes permanent representatives and rotating members from the nine legislatures.
ANC member Peggy Hollander from the Northern Cape was nominated by the ANC a short while ago as deputy chairperson. There were no further nominations and she was elected unopposed. — I-Net Bridge