Election of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson

Meeting report

Election of Chairperson of the MWC

The Caucus Secretary welcomed Members present explaining she would conduct the election of the office bearers of the Multiparty Women’s Caucus (MPC). She introduced the other support staff. The election would be in three parts – Members will first elect a Chairperson and thereafter, the elected Chairperson would preside over proceedings of the election of the deputy Chairperson and then five Members of the steering committee.

Per the Joint Rules, the Chairperson must come from the largest party in Parliament. The deputy chairperson must be elected from an opposition party, i.e. parties not participating in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The meeting met the quorum of having 15 Members present to make decisions.

Nominations for the Chairperson will be called. If there is more than one candidate, the Caucus will vote by show of hands. This applies to each phase of the elections.

The Caucus Secretary called for nominations.

Ms N Mvana (ANC) nominated Ms L Dunjwa (ANC) as the Chairperson of the Caucus.

Ms Dunjwa accepted the nomination.

Ms M Letsike (ANC) seconded the nomination.

At this stage, a Member of the MK party complained about the venue's small size and that Members at the back of the room could not hear proceedings. She urged waiting a few minutes before starting.

Ms Mvana said Members must arrive 15 minutes before the meeting starts.

The Caucus Secretary apologised for the venue, saying it was the only one that could be secured owing to the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) preparations.

As there was a lot of chatter as Members tried to get settled, the Cacus Secretary started the process of nominations for the Chairperson of the MPW afresh. She called for nominations for the Chairperson.

Ms Mvana again nominated Ms Dunjwa as the Chairperson of the Caucus.

Ms Dunjwa again accepted the nomination.

Ms Letsike again seconded the nomination.

There were no further nominations.

Ms Dunjwa was duly elected the Chairperson of the Multiparty Women’s Caucus.

Election of Deputy Chairperson of the MWC

The Chairperson called for nominations for the Deputy Chairperson.

Ms N Gantsho (ANC) nominated Ms T Nontenja (UDM).

The Chairperson clarified that the Deputy Chairperson must come from the opposition, not participating in the GNU.

There was much noise from the floor.

The Chairperson called for nominations.

Ms C Mafagane (MK) nominated Ms H Mbhele (MK) as the Deputy Chairperson.

Noise from the floor continued.

Ms Mbhele accepted the nomination.

The Chairperson appealed for Members not to speak at the time.

Ms V Mente (EFF) seconded the nomination.

Ms Kobe (Action SA) nominated Ms D James (Action SA).

The MK Members said Action SA was not the official opposition; MK was.

Ms P Majodina (ANC) clarified that there were multiple parties in the opposition and the deputy chairperson could come from any of those parties, not necessarily the official opposition.

Ms James accepted the nomination. She also asked for clarity on opposition vs official opposition.

The Chairperson said the deputy chairperson could come from any party in the opposition.

Ms E Powell (DA) seconded the nomination of Ms James.

Ms P Kekana (ANC) noted the name of Ms Nontenja was nominated earlier.

The Chairperson explained that Ms Nontenja could not be nominated as she came from a party participating in the GNU.

The two names nominated for Deputy Chairperson was Ms Mbhele and Ms James.

Ms Majodina called for nominations to be closed with these two names.

Ms M Khawula (EFF) made an input in Zulu.

The Chairperson said the names would now go to a vote. The two Members were excused from the venue.

Ms T Mgweba (ANC) asked for a caucus.

Ms H Mkhaliphi (EFF) said there was no time for a caucus and called for the proceeding of the vote, otherwise, they would leave the meeting.

The Chairperson called for order repeatedly as there was much disruption.

Ms L Ntshalintshali (ANC) said the MWC said the process was not taken seriously as the meeting was taking place on a day when Members were supposed to leave for a sitting and the venue was small. The women could not express themselves. She asked whether it was feasible to continue, given that Members had to depart soon for the sitting and other Members were calling for a caucus. She asked the Chairperson to rule on this. She asked that the meeting not degenerate and the process be taken more seriously.

The Chairperson agreed that Members were not taking themselves seriously. She found the meeting difficult to control and Members were sensitive when they were called to order. She said there was nothing she could do about the venue – they could not adjourn now because of the venue.

She said the voting would proceed.

She asked for Members in support of Ms Mbhele to raise their hands. 

She asked for those Members voting for Ms James to raise their hands.

There was much noise and disruption during the process.

The Chairperson repeatedly called for order.

Members called for the Chairperson to be respected.

The Chairperson announced the results: Ms Mbhele got 26 votes and Ms James 53 votes.

The Chairperson again called for order. She was disappointed that those making the most noise were leaders in their organisations and were supposed to ensure meetings were orderly. She said women Members could not conduct themselves the way. She found herself repeatedly calling at the top of her voice “no”.

Ms James was announced as the Deputy Chairperson.

Members began leaving the venue.

The Chairperson asked to proceed with the nominations of the steering committee. She said the procedure would be the same – nominations would be called, the nominee would accept and if there were multiple names, the matter would go to vote.

Nomination of names for MWC steering committee

Ms Ntshalintshali nominated Ms Nontenja.

Ms Mgweba nominated Ms K Bilankulu (ANC).

This nomination was seconded.

Ms Bilankulu accepted the nomination.

Ms Majodina came back to the name of Ms Nontenja and said that although she was not present, the Caucus should check whether she was available to take up the nomination.

Ms Powell proposed that the MPC reconvene at another time as it was 15 minutes until the budget speech started and Members still had to walk some way to get there.

The Chairperson said Ms Nontenja was said to be available.

Ms Gantsho nominated the name of Nodada.

Adv S Salie (Al Jama-ah) proclaimed that she had her hand up for a long time but was not recognised because of the venue. She said women should not accept the “scraps in Parliament” and that they deserve more respect. She said the sitting was starting soon and Members could not be expected to make decisions in that short time. Those who have left have honoured that they need to be in the sitting shortly. She asked to adjourn until later this week instead of rushing unacceptably.

This was seconded and Members agreed to adjourn until another date.

The meeting was adjourned.