Ncube-Ndaba congratulates Majodina on her election as Southern Caucus Chairperson

The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in the Parliament of South Africa, Hon. Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba has congratulated the Chief Whip of the majority party in the National Assembly, Hon Pemmy Majodina, on her election as the Chairperson of the Southern Region Caucus in the Pan African Parliament (PAP).

It would be recalled that Hon. Majodina was first elected as an interim Chairperson in this position on Tuesday, 28 June at the beginning of the current Ordinary Session of the Parliament and now elected to a three-year tenure.

Hon. Ncube-Ndaba, described Hon. Majodina as a parliamentarian who understands the needs of her broad constituency and is always driven by her deep commitment to meeting those needs. She said Hon. Majodina is a capable and a seasoned leader of the people who has shown extra ordinary leadership attributes throughout her involvement in the service of the people. Those attributes, Ms Ncube-Ndaba said, include fearlessness, accountability and commitment to the ethos of democracy.

“Hon. Majodina is a versatile and dynamic parliamentarian who easily adapts to the fast-changing times. Her election in this position is befitting. The committee congratulates her on her election and wishes her the best in this new responsibility,” added Hon. Ncube-Ndaba.

In a related development, another member of South Africa’s delegation to the Pan-African Parliament, Hon. Thembekile Majola has emerged the Chairperson of PAP’s Permanent Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline.

Hon. Majola was elected to chair the PAP’s Rules Committee whose statutory responsibility includes assisting the Bureau in the interpretation and application of the Rules of Procedure; considering requests for the amendment of the Rules and considering cases of indiscipline referred to it. The Committee was at the centre of the crisis that eventually led to the suspension of parliamentary activities due to the recalcitrant attitude of the immediate past Chairperson of the Committee.

“The Rules Committee is one of the key committees in the Pan African Parliament. We are sitting with the issue of the Rules itself that need to be changed, so that will be the first thing I have to deal with,” said Hon. Majola adding that he will also “need to make sure that there is stability in this institution.” 

“When I am talking about stability I am talking about administration, as (we) were here for three … five days you will see meetings have been called for 9 o’ clock but they start at 11 o’ clock. It must be a Parliament like other Parliaments,” said Hon. Majola.

Parliamentary activities resumed at the continental Parliament on 27 June 2022 following disagreement over the implementation of the “geographical rotation principle” which resulted in the suspension of the election Session last year in June.

The Southern Region Caucus has, for the first time since the establishment of the PAP in 2004, had a PAP delegate from its ranks elected the President of the continental parliament – a position that has been dominated by the Eastern, Western and Central Regions of the PAP. The Executive Council of the African Union decided that only the Northern Region were eligible to present candidates for the presidency of the Parliament.

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