Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa

The Speaker of the National Assembly presides over the National Assembly of South Africa, the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa. The speaker is chosen from among the Members of the Assembly at its first sitting following a general election and whenever the office is vacant.[1] The Speaker acts as a "referee", taking charge of debates to make sure that the MPs can participate freely while keeping to the rules. The Speaker also has managerial duties to ensure that Parliament runs smoothly. Each political party in the Assembly elects a chief whip to run its affairs. The presiding officers, the chief whips, and the Leader of Government Business (the person appointed by the Cabinet to liaise with Parliament) together decide on the programme of work.

Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa
Incumbent
Thandi Modise
since 22 May 2019
National Assembly of South Africa
StyleHonorable Speaker
TypePresiding officer of one chamber in a bicameral legislature
ResidenceCape Town
AppointerElected by members of the National Assembly
Formation1854
First holderChristoffel Brand
DeputyDeputy Speaker of the National Assembly
SalaryR226‚400, a month
Websitehttps://www.parliament.gov.za/na-presiding-officers
South Africa
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The office of Speaker of the National Assembly was preceded by the offices of Speaker of the House of Assembly (1910–1984) under the 1909 and 1961 constitutions and Speaker of Parliament under the Tricameral Parliament (1984–1994).

The Speaker

The Speaker of the National Assembly is elected to and removed from office in terms of S52 of the Constitution. In terms of this section the:

  • House must elect the Speaker from its members during the first House sitting
  • The house may remove the Speaker by resolution
  • The house must fill the position when it becomes vacant during term
  • Chief Justice must preside over the election of the Speaker

The Mandate of the Speaker

The Speaker's mandate is twofold. It is constitutional and institutional. This mandate is furthermore dual at the National Assembly and Parliamentary level. In both situations, it involves interacting with the following sectors of the global community:

  • International
  • Continental
  • Regional
  • National

List of Speakers (1854–present)

Speakers of the Cape House of Assembly (1854–1910)
No. Name
(Birth–Death)		 Portrait Term of office
1 Sir Christoffel Brand
(1797–1875)		 1854–1873
2 Sir David Tennant
(1829–1905)		 1874–1895
3 Sir Henry Juta
(1875–1930)		 1896–1898
4 Sir Bisset Berry
(1839–1922)		 1899–1907
5 James Tennant Molteno
(1865–1936)		 1907–1910

Speakers of the House of Assembly (1910–1994)
No. Name
(Birth–Death)		 Portrait Took office Left office Political party
1 James Tennant Molteno
(1865–1936)[2]		 1 November 1910 18 November 1915 South African Party
2 Joel Krige
(1866–1933)		 19 November 1915 24 July 1924 South African Party
3 Ernest George Jansen
(1881–1959)		 25 July 1924 19 June 1929 National Party
4 Jan Hendrick Hofmeyr de Waal
(1871–1937)		 19 July 1929 25 May 1933 National Party
Ernest George Jansen
(1881–1959)		 26 May 1933 21 January 1944 National Party
(until 1934)
United Party
(from 1934)
(3)
5 Clifford Meyer van Coller
(1876–1977)		 22 January 1944 5 August 1948 United Party
6 Jozua François Naudé
(1889–1969)		 6 August 1948 7 November 1950 National Party
7 Johannes Conradie
(1897–1966)		 19 January 1951 31 December 1960 National Party
8 Henning Johannes Klopper
(1895–1985)		 20 January 1961 1 August 1974 National Party
9 Alwyn Schlebusch
(1917–2008)		 2 August 1974 25 January 1976 National Party
10 Jannie Loots
(1914–1998)		 26 January 1976 30 July 1981 National Party
11 J. P. du Toit 31 July 1981 13 February 1983 National Party
12 Johan Greeff
(1921–2004)		 14 February 1983 31 December 1986 National Party
13 Louis le Grange
(1928–1991)		 1 January 1987 26 October 1991 National Party
14 Gene Louw
(1931–2015)		 14 November 1991 9 May 1994 National Party

Speakers of the National Assembly (1994–present)
No. Name
(Birth–Death)		 Portrait Took office Left office Political party
1 Frene Ginwala
(1932–)		 9 May 1994 12 July 2004 African National Congress
2 Baleka Mbete
(1949–)		 12 July 2004 25 September 2008 African National Congress
3 Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde
(1955–)		 25 September 2008 6 May 2009 African National Congress
4 Max Sisulu
(1945–)		 6 May 2009 21 May 2014 African National Congress
5 Baleka Mbete
(1949–)		 21 May 2014 22 May 2019 African National Congress
6 Thandi Modise
(1959–)		 22 May 2019 Incumbent African National Congress

See also

References
  1. "The Speakers Corner". Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  2. From 1911, Sir James Tennant Molteno
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