Cape Town - There were cheers in the legislature on Monday after Daylin Mitchell was elected as the new speaker, replacing former speaker Masizole Mnqasela.
At 36, Mitchell is the youngest speaker of the legislature. His predecessor Mnqasela was 38 when he was elected speaker. Mitchell said: “I am acutely aware of the grave responsibilities bestowed upon me.
“I shall discharge my duties as the speaker and chief presiding officer of this House in an impartial and fair manner.”
Mitchell's opponent for the job, ANC Finance and Economic Opportunities spokesperson Nomi Nkondlo, received votes from all the members of the opposition who attended the session except one, who voted for Mitchell in the secret ballot.
Of the 35 votes cast, Mitchell got 23, and Nkondlo got 11. It was a secret ballot, but from the vote count, it appears one of the opposition members voted with the DA.
There were 22 DA MPLs, including Mitchell and nine ANC MPLs, in attendance.
The other members were Freedom Front Plus MPL Peter Marais, GOOD MPL Shaun August, Al Jama-ah MPL Khalil Brinkhuis and ACDP MPL Ferlon Christians. Neither of the two EFF members attended.
Mitchell now steps down from his post as Mobility MEC, a post he was appointed to in May 2021. Aged 35 at the time, Mitchell became the youngest member of Premier Alan Winde’s Executive Committee.
Congratulating Mitchell on his election, Winde said: “Outgoing MEC Mitchell has been an invaluable part of our provincial executive, but he now takes on a very important role in our government, which I believe he will fulfil with professionalism.”
Winde has asked Agriculture MEC Ivan Mayer to oversee the Mobility portfolio until a new MEC is appointed.
The new speaker takes office at a time when his predecessor has filed a court application challenging the DA’s termination of his membership in the Western Cape High Court.
The matter is set to be heard on Thursday.
Leader of the opposition, ANC Cameron Dugmore, said: “We remain of the view that former Speaker Masizole Mnqasela did a sterling job as speaker. He was objective and put the legislature on the map.”
Dugmore accused Winde of acting as the DA's hatchet man. It was Winde who, as provincial caucus leader, first asked Mnqasela to step down in May as allegations of wrongdoing emerged.
Dugmore said: “Winde still has not produced a shred of evidence to the legislature about what Mnqasela did wrong. We now await the outcome of the high court application of the former speaker.”
Dugmore also accused Winde of protecting Deputy Speaker Beverley Schäfer, who is currently serving under a cloud.
Good Party MPL Shaun August said: “There are a number of outstanding disciplinary matters that need to be dealt with urgently, including the (independent) Vassen (investigation) Report.”
This report found the Deputy Speaker guilty of financial misconduct and having violated the members' Code of Conduct.
