/ 23 February 2012

Richard Majola elected speaker of W Cape legislature

DA MPL Richard Majola has been voted in as the new speaker of the Western Cape legislature, according to a report on Thursday.

Majola, the former deputy-speaker, garnered 26 votes, to beat the African National Congress’s candidate Carol Beerwinkel with 13 votes, the Cape Times newspaper reported.

In his address before the house on Wednesday, Majola said he was humbled by the faith the Democratic Alliance caucus had placed in him and promised to treat all members equally.

Majola replaced Shahid Esau, who resigned to take up a position in the National Assembly.

Piet Pretorius, a former secretary of the legislature, was voted in as his deputy. Beerwinkel had also been nominated for the deputy post. — Sapa