By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi has been elected the chair of the powerful Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) in parliament.
Zibi was nominated by the African National Congress (ANC) and seconded by the Democratic Alliance (DA).
This comes after weeks of speculation on who would lead the committee that keeps a close eye on the use of public funds.
His election came not too long after BOSA leader, Mmusi Maimane, was also elected as chairperson of the Standing Committee on Appropriations.
Traditionally the chairpersonship of SCOPA is allocated to a member of the opposition. However, this time around, it has gone to a party that is part of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Zibi said that he did not take his election lightly and hoped to work closely with other members of the committee.
“I’m a collaborator by nature with my colleagues and I look forward to working with all the members from all the political parties that are represented in SCOPA.”
But not everyone supported his nomination, with Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Veronica Mente saying that Rise Mzansi was part of the GNU and should not chair SCOPA.
“Before you declare, we want to record that, as the EFF, we are objecting to that as much as we are not having a candidate.”
National Assembly portfolio committees and NCOP select committees have now all but completed the election of chairpersons.
Cedric Frolick, Werner Horn and Zandile Majozi to serve as House Chairpersons.
Following the House Chairpersons’ election, National Assembly Rule 14 provides that the Speaker allocates functions and responsibilities to each House Chairperson and announces this in the parliamentary publication for Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports.
The House elected members to represent Parliament on the international bodies of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the South African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADCPF).
Mdumiseni Ntuli, Mergan Chetty, DuduzileZuma-Sambudla, and Vuyani Pambo will represent Parliament in the PAP in terms of Article 4(2) and (3) of the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-African Parliament.
The House also resolved to elect Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane (Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces) as the fifth member to represent Parliament at the Pan-African Parliament.
Meanwhile, Thoko Didiza (Speaker of the National Assembly), Sylvia Lucas, Kenneth Mmoiemang, Babalo Madikizela, David Skosana, and Veronica Mente will represent Parliament in the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF).