ANC’s Mhlakaza-Manamela elected Gauteng deputy speaker

African National Congress’ (ANC) Nomvuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela has been elected as the new deputy speaker for the seventh administration of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

Mhlakaza-Manamela was elected during a Special House Sitting of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Thursday.

Resignation

Her appointment as deputy speaker comes after the resignation of the Democratic Alliances’ (DA) Refiloe Ntsekhe earlier this month.

The decision to resign comes less than a day after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced his new members of the executive council (MECs) after two abrupt postponements.

Lesufi’s new Cabinet is composed of seven ANC MECs, one from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), one from the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and one from Rise Mzansi each.

However, the premier’s cabinet excludes members of the DA, after the party announced it would not form part of the provincial government of unity after failing to reach an agreement with the ANC.

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