South Africa

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

Constitution Bill of Rights Government Executive President Kgalema Motlanthe Deputy President Baleka Mbete Ministers Legislative Parliament Council of Provinces Chairperson M. J. Mahlangu National Assembly Speaker Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde Leader of the Opposition Helen Zille (national) Sandra Botha (parliamentary) Elections Judiciary Constitutional Court Supreme Court of Appeal High Court Magistrates Courts Provinces Districts (MMs, DMs) Municipalities (list) Political parties Foreign relations

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The Speaker of the South African National Assembly presides over the National Assembly, 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)

Speakers of the Cape House of Assembly

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

Speakers of the House of Assembly and Parliament 1910-1994

• 1910-1915 James Tennant Molteno (from 1911, Sir James Tennant Molteno)
• 1915-1924 Joel Krige
• 1924-1929 Ernest George Jansen (1st time)
• 1929-1933 Jan Hendrick Hofmeyr de Waal
• 1933-1944 Ernest George Jansen (2nd time)
• 1944-1948 C.M. van Coller
• 1948-1950 Jozua François Naudé
• 1951-1960 J.H. Conradie
• 1961-1974 Henning J. Klopper
• 1974-1976 Alwyn Schlebusch
• 1976-1981 Jannie Loots
• 1981-1983 J.P. du Toit

• 1983-1986 Johan Greeff - Speaker of Parliament from 1984.
• 1987-1991 Louis le Grange
• 1991-1994 Gene Louw

Speakers of the National Assembly (1994- )

• 1994-2004 Frene Ginwala (f)
• 2004- Baleka Mbete (f)