African National Congress member and former agriculture minister Thoko Didiza was elected as the speaker of the South African National Assembly on Friday.
The elected lawmaker received the most votes in the legislature’s first session since the May 29 elections, which did not produce a clear winner. Her opponent was Veronica Mente, chairwoman of the Economic Freedom Fighters.
The African National Congress (ANC) held last-minute talks with other parties on Thursday to finalize a deal on who will be included in South Africa’s next government, just ahead of the newly elected parliament convening on Friday.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to win a new term in office, but the composition of the new government remains unclear.
The ANC, in power since the end of apartheid 30 years ago, lost its majority in the May 29 election, creating unprecedented political uncertainty in the democratic era.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) of South Africa stated on Wednesday that it would be willing to join a unity government with the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA). This comes after no party managed to secure a parliamentary majority in last month’s elections.