Beleaguered former speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has landed an honorary invite to attend President Cyril Ramaphosa’s opening of Parliament in Cape Town later today.
Mapisa-Nqakula is facing charges of corruption and money laundering, and was compelled to resign as the speaker in April.
During a media briefing on Wednesday, chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, confirmed she was invited as was former president Jacob Zuma, now the leader of the opposition uMkhonto weSizwe Party.
Other dignitaries expected to attend include Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe; former deputy presidents Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and David Mabuza, and former parliamentary speakers, Thandi Modise.
Meanwhile Mtshweni-Tsipane said a gala dinner will not take place after the parliamentary proceedings, “due to financial constraints.”
Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George, explained that R6 to R14 million was budgeted for this year’s opening.
“The reason we budget that range is to look at cost factors. In the last sitting in February, we budgeted R8.4 million. The actual expenditure may be less, it may be slightly more depending on the reconciliation that we will be doing. This is the amount we are provided for the event,” said George.
Speaker of Parliament, Thoko Didiza, said the event will house 490 members of Parliament and members of the legislature, adding that no political parties had threatened to boycott or disturb proceedings.
“No one has informed us they will boycott,” said Didiza.
To preserve the African heritage and fair representation of all cultures, Didiza said the opening will commence with a praise poem in Tshivenda, the mother tongue of Ramaphosa.
“We will also have an imbongi (praise singer). For this year’s opening of Parliament, the imbongi will perform in Tshivenda chosen through a rotational selection process to ensure fair representation of South Africa’s linguistic diversity,” said Didiza.
The Star