Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Women in SA Politics

From IOL:
"With Kgalema Motlanthe named as the new president of the country, his deputy is now expected to be the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete.

Senior ANC sources in parliament told The Mercury on Wednesday that the ruling party had decided on Mbete to succeed Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. They said Motlanthe would formally name Mbete as deputy president after he had been sworn in by Chief Justice Pius Langa at Tuynhuys on Thursday.

Mbete became one of the most powerful women in South Africa when she was elected national chairman of the ANC and chairman of its parliamentary political committee.

ANC insiders also said that deputy Speaker Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde would fill Mbete's position.

Despite being sacked for an unauthorised trip to Spain last year, Madlala-Routledge's star had continued to rise in the Jacob Zuma camp, the ANC insiders said.

Madlala-Routledge was recently appointed chairman of the ANC caucus in parliament. Her appointment as deputy Speaker is viewed by some as recognition for her work as a member of parliament.

Mbete's spokesperson, Thenjiwe Kona, refused to confirm the appointment. She said it was news to her that Mbete was to be the deputy president."


Baleka Mbete - from Who's Who of South Africa
Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge - from Who's Who of South Africa
Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde - from Business Day






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