The role of the speaker in post-apartheid South Africa: political impartiality or partisanship?
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Date
2015
Authors
Labuschagne, P. A. H.
Napier, C. J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State
Abstract
The role of the Speaker in the South African Parliament has recently being steeped in controversy when
the sitting Speaker, Ms Baleka Mbete, was accused of partiality and strong partisanship towards the
ruling party. This controversy highlighted the cardinally important role of a Speaker in parliament to
ensure impartiality and fairness to all political parties. The South African Parliament is based on the
British Westminster system in which the impartiality of the Speaker is accorded a very high premium
and a distinguishing feature of that legislature. The aim of this article is to investigate the office of
the Speaker with reference to its historical background and development as an official position
in a parliamentary system. The purpose is to highlight the Speaker’s important role, not only as the
chairperson of the National Assembly, but also as the custodian of the powers and the dignity of the
Assembly. The article also points out the inherent dangers of the Speaker’s embrace of partisan interests
above that of parliament and the implications for the future role of the institution.
Description
Keywords
Speaker, Westminster parliamentary system, South African parliament, Power, Procedures
Citation
Labuschagne, P. A. H., & Napier, C. J. (2015). The role of the speaker in post-apartheid South Africa: political impartiality or partisanship?. Journal for Contemporary History, 40(1), 41-58.