CAPE TOWN, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Thoko Didiza, the South African agriculture minister, was elected as speaker of the National Assembly Friday.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who presided over the first sitting of the new National Assembly, announced that Didiza won the election, beating her only rival candidate Veronica Mente from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) by 284 votes to 49 votes from members of the National Assembly by secret ballot.
Didiza, a member of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), is currently serving as the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development of South Africa.
Zondo congratulated Didiza on winning the election, which he said was conducted in line with the Constitution. ■