Deputy speaker Annelie Lotriet committed to Government of National Unity

CAPE TOWN - Newly-elected deputy speaker Annelie Lotriet said that her election signals a new future for South Africa.

Her election on Friday as the second-in-charge of the legislature is the first of the negotiated positions to be filled by the Democratic Alliance (DA) after an eleventh-hour pact was reached with the African National Congress (ANC) to govern the country.

Parliament has not had a deputy speaker from an opposition party since the country’s very first deputy speaker, the National Party’s Bhandra Ranchod in 1994.

Lotriet is a well-experienced parliamentary veteran with a thorough understanding of its inner workings.

She believes the legislature can lead by example in making a Government of National Unity work (GNU).

"We do set the tone in terms of oversight, so the executive will have to be accountable to this new parliament, where you have this new dispensation. so it’s critical for any changes and any future government."

One of her first tests will be whether to re-open the impeachment process against President Cyril Ramaphosa at the insistence of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Friday night ahead of the vote for the election of president.

The DA and the EFF were part of a big bloc of opposition parties who voted in favour of an impeachment inquiry but which was blocked by the anc’s majority in 2022.

"This is something i will have to discuss with the speaker, and we will not rush into anything, and we will stick to the rules of parliament which we have all agreed to."
Lotriet said she believes many changes can be made to speed up the legislative process.