By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The appointment of Dr Xiaomei Havard, a Chinese-born South African businesswoman, as a member of Parliament (MP) following the passing of minister Jackson Mthembu in the National Assembly has been met with mixed reactions.
ANC parliamentary office announced on Wednesday that Mthembu’s position in the national assembly would be filled by Havard from Gauteng.
She was born in Henan, China, and is married to a South African. She joined the ANC back in 2004.
She has been a member of multiple Chinese businesses and Brics forums. Havard is also the honorary president of the Africa Federation of Chinese Women in Commerce and Industry and the co-president of the South Africa-China Famous Female Business Council, according to her profile on professional network LinkedIn.
On Wednesday President Cyril Ramaphosa also announced that Minister of Small Business Development Khumbudzo Ntshaveni would, until further notice, act as the minister in the presidency.
Other members who were sworn in by Parliament on ANC ticket includes Dingaan Myolwa from the Eastern Cape who replaced Pumza Dyantyi and Nkosinathi Dlamini from KwaZulu-Natal who replaced Nomvuzo Shabalala.
Also brought on parliamentary board is Ponani Petunia Makhubele from Limpopo who replaced Nombulelo Hermans and Kavilan Pillay from KwaZulu-Natal who replaced Loyiso Mpumlwana.
The African National Congress in Parliament welcomes the appointment of five new members to fill vacancies in the national assembly. These vacancies arose from the passing on of ANC MPs…
“The new members of parliament were sworn-in earlier this afternoon in a hybrid swearing-in ceremony by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli,” the party said in a statement.
This feels so disrespectful that the ANC replaces the late Jackson Mthembu with a Chinese businesswoman??? Enough is enough!!! ANC must be removed!!!
Sahamba isizwe sibhekile#PutSouthAfricanFirst#NoChineseInSAPaliarment pic.twitter.com/IWRKXK23xI
— #XaKuvumeWenaNkosi ???? (@GenSiboko_ZA) January 28, 2021
I really don’t care who replaces Jackson Mthembu. As long as they’re effective and impactful.
Our country is on its knees…!!
Asia-phobia ya lona ya nkga maan.
— Heelang!!?? (@dudummeti) January 28, 2021
The #PutSouthAficansFirst is now insulting the EFF because the ANC in parliament sworn in Dr Xiaomei Havard as Member of Parliament. #NoChineseInSAPaliarment pic.twitter.com/EQuxFhwpNj
— Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) January 28, 2021
Chief whip and ANC MP Faiez Jacobs welcomed new deployees and wished them well in the strategic deployments aimed at strengthening the ruling party’s caucus in Parliament.