'The recycling continues’ — Mzansi shocked over Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s speaker nomination

The nomination of former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as the ANC’s candidate for the position of National Assembly speaker has triggered mixed reactions online.

The ANC Parliamentary caucus said Mapisa-Nqakula has a wealth of experience and it is positive she will excel in her new role if elected.

“Former minister Mapisa-Nqakula brings a formidable wealth of experience to the new position with a solid track record as a legislator and policymaker spanning over a number of years,” it said.

TimesLIVE reported ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe told a special party caucus meeting on Tuesday the party wants Mapisa-Nqakula to be its candidate for the position.

The changes come after a cabinet reshuffle announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week.

The president announced that former speaker Thandi Modise had been moved to replace Mapisa-Nqakula in defence.

Ramaphosa did not immediately say to which position Mapisa-Nqakula would be deployed.

The reshuffle and uncertainty about Mapisa-Nqakula’s next deployment raised speculation that she was being “punished” for contradicting Ramaphosa last month about whether unrest and looting in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng was an insurrection. 

In a national address in July, Ramaphosa said the unrest, initially sparked by the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma , was a deliberate attempt to undermine the democratic state. He said the demonstrations were an insurrection that failed to gain popular support.

Mapisa-Nqakula told MPs days after Ramaphosa’s address there was no evidence of an insurrection. The minister later changed her statement.

Mantashe said moving Mapisa-Nqakula could prove to be challenging for Modise as she will earn less as the defence minister.

Mapisa-Nqakula needs 230 votes out of 400 to be elected as speaker. 

Here are some of the reactions online to the nomination: