Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa

South Africa

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of South Africa

Constitution Bill of Rights Government Executive President Jacob Zuma Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe Cabinet Shadow Cabinet Legislative Parliament National Council of Provinces Chairperson M. J. Mahlangu National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu Leader of the Opposition Helen Zille (national) Lindiwe Mazibuko (parliament) Judiciary Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng Pres. of Supreme Court of Appeal Lex Mpati Courts Constitutional Court Supreme Court of Appeal High Courts Magistrates' Courts Elections General: 1910 1915 1920 1921 1924 1929 1933 1938 1943 1948 1953 1958 1961 1966 1970 1974 1977 1981 1984 1987 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 Municipal: 2000 2006 2011 2016 Referendums: 1960 1983 1992 Administrative divisions Provinces Districts (MMs, DMs) Municipalities (list) Other Political parties Foreign relations Taxation

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The Speaker of the National Assembly presides over the National Assembly of South Africa, the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa. The speaker is chosen from among the Members of the Assembly at its first sitting following a general election and whenever the office is vacant . The Speaker acts as a "referee", taking charge of debates to make sure that the MPs can participate freely while keeping to the rules. The Speaker also has managerial duties to ensure that Parliament runs smoothly. Each political party in the Assembly elects a chief whip to run its affairs. The presiding officers, the chief whips, and the Leader of Government Business (the person appointed by the Cabinet to liaise with Parliament) together decide on the programme of work.

The office of Speaker of the National Assembly was preceded by the offices of Speaker of the House of Assembly (1910–1984) under the 1909 and 1961 constitutions and Speaker of Parliament under the Tricameral Parliament (1984–1994)

List of Speakers (1854-Present)

Speakers of the Cape House of Assembly (1854-1910)

• Sir Christoffel Brand (1854–1873)
• Sir David Tennant (1874–1895)
• Sir Henry Juta (1896–1898)
• Sir Bisset Berry (1899–1907)
• James Molteno (1908–1910)

Speakers of the House of Assembly (1910-1994)

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Political Party
1	James Tennant Molteno (from 1911, Sir James Tennant Molteno)	1910	1915	South African Party
2	Joel Krige	1915	1924	South African Party
3	Ernest George Jansen (1st time)	1924	1929	National Party
4	Jan Hendrick Hofmeyr de Waal	1929	1933	National Party
	Ernest George Jansen (2nd time)	1933	1944	National Party/United Party
5	C.M. van Coller	1944	1948	United Party
6	Jozua François Naudé	1948	1950	National Party
7	J.H. Conradie	1951	1960	National Party
8	Henning J. Klopper	1961	1974	National Party
9	Alwyn Schlebusch	1974	1976	National Party
10	Jannie Loots	1976	1981	National Party
11	J.P. du Toit	1981	1983	National Party
12	Johan Greeff	1983	1986	National Party
13	Louis le Grange	1987	1991	National Party
14	Gene Louw	1991	1994	National Party

Speakers of the National Assembly (1994-Present)

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Political Party
1	Frene Ginwala (f)	1994	2004	African National Congress
2	Baleka Mbete (f)	2004	2008	African National Congress
3	Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde (f)	2008	2009	African National Congress
4	Max Sisulu (m)	2009	Present	African National Congress

See also

• National Assembly of South Africa