The speaker unwittingly gave Ramaphosa’s bid for ANC president an endorsement.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 02: National Assembly Speaker; Baleka Mbete addresses the media regarding the motion of no confidence against Jacob Zuma request at the OR Tambo International Airport on April 02, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Thulani Mbele)
National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete on Thursday had a slip of the tongue moment during Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s question-and-answer session to MPs, introducing the African National Congress (ANC) presidential hopeful as “honourable president”.
Even DA MP John Steehuisen jested that Mbete was anticipating Ramaphosa to be the next president of the ruling party.
“Madame Speaker, may I draw your attention to Rule 63, rule of anticipation,” Steehuisen said to bursts of laughter in the House.
Former AU chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Ramaphosa are seen as frontrunners for the ANC’s top post when Jacob Zuma steps down as party president in December at the ANC’s 54th national elective conference.
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