What is secretary to parliament doing at ANC speakers’ caucus meeting?

The ANC appears to have convened a caucus of its speakers, including both National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete and chairperson of national council of provinces (NCOP) Thandi Modise, today in Johannesburg.

Khusela Sangoni, the national communications for the ANC at Luthuli House, was brutally honest. “I haven’t heard of it. I am not sure what it is. If it’s convened by the speaker, ask Moloto Mothapo.”

Perhaps Nonceba Mhlauli, the acting spokesperson of ANC caucus in parliament, might point us in the right direction. “So you are asking what is this event all about? Good question. What exactly is this event? I have no idea, perhaps ask Moloto Mothapo. Perhaps he might know it,” she kindly offered.

Moloto Mothapo, the head of communications for parliament, who reports to secretary of parliament Gengezi Mgidlana, was equally oblivious as to where his boss was. “ANC speakers’ caucus? What’s that? I am in a meeting and have no idea what that is. Let me find out for you after a few hours,” he said.

Gcinwa Magwaza, personal assistant to Mbete, in her capacity as national chairperson of the ANC, denied it was a party event. “We don’t have speakers in the ANC. Therefore this workshop is convened by parliament,” she said.