NEW ANC APPOINTMENTS IN PARLIAMENT

20 June 2012

The African National Congress welcomes the appointment of Comrade Stone Sizani as the new Chief Whip of the ANC in Parliament. Comrade Sizani's appointment is in line with the 2008 NEC resolution, which states that a position of a chief whip of the ANC in the National Assembly must be held by a member of the NEC.

Comrade Sizani brings to this position a wealth of political and legislative experience, having served in various senior ANC positions and the provincial legislature in the Eastern Cape. He is currently serving as member of the NEC. He moves from the position of the chairperson of the portfolio committee on rural development and land reform.

We also welcome and congratulate the following other new appointees:

1. Comrade MP Doris Dlakude takes over as the new Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the NA. Comrade Dlakude is an experienced politician, who is currently serving in both the provincial executive committees of the ANC and the ANC Women's League in Mpumalanga.

2. Former ANC Chairperson of Caucus, Comrade Jerry Thibedi, replaces Comrade Sizani as the Chairperson of the rural and agrarian reform portfolio committee. Thibedi has been member of the North West Legislature for many years and has held various positions in the provincial executive. He has been member of the NA since 2009.

3. Comrade Annelize Van Wyk, who has been acting chairperson of the police portfolio committee since the deployment of Sindi Chikunga to the Executive, has been confirmed for the position. Comrade Van Wyk has been Member of Parliament and ANC activist for many years.

5. Position of Chairperson of Caucus would be filled at a later stage.

The ANC Caucus that sat this morning congratulated former Chief Whip Dr Mathole Motshekga and former Acting Deputy Chief Whip Nkensani Kubayi for the excellent service rendered in their positions. Motshekga, who is the longest serving Chief Whip to date, inherited a Caucus that was in financial problems, and has turned things around. Since 2009, Caucus has achieved four consecutive unqualified audit opinions. He leaves a Caucus that is stable, both financially and politically.

We also thank Comrade Kubayi for holding the fort with youthful energy and dedication since the deployment of the former Deputy Chief Whip, Bulelani Magwanishe, to the executive last year.

Statement issued by the African National Congress, June 20 2013

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