CAPE TOWNfreebonusnodepositrequired, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Thoko Didiza, the South African agriculture minister, was elected as speaker of the new 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.

Shortly after the announcement of the result, Didiza, in her first address as speaker, expressed gratitude to all of the people who had participated in the electoral process as well as her party.

"The role of the speaker is that of ensuring that we conduct the debates in this parliament within the rules in a manner that is fair, and I commit that I will work with the team in the speaker's office, together with the house chairperson that will be duly elected, to exactly that," said Didiza. "I also commit that I would work with all the parties, led by their whips and their representatives, to make sure that we conduct the business of this parliament in a manner that indeed reflects the will of the people of South Africa."

The newly elected speaker would then take over the proceedings and preside over the election of the deputy speaker of the new National Assembly, according to the procedures.

With the speaker and deputy speaker elected, the National Assembly would then proceed with the election of the president.■