Glynnis Breytenbach appointed DA chief whip

Glynnis Breytenbach is the DA’s new chief whip.

Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu

Glynnis Breytenbach has been appointed as the DA’s chief whip and chief GNU negotiator in Parliament.Breytenbach has 12 years of parliamentary experience and decades of experience as a senior prosecutor.She will oversee 13 National Assembly whips,87 National Assembly members,and 12 National Council of Provinces members,and has three private member’s bills in the National Assembly.Not only will Glynnis Breytenbach be the DA’s chief whip but,alongside parliamentary leader George Michalakis,she will be the party’s chief government of national unity (GNU) negotiator in Parliament.

On Monday,Michalakis announced that Breytenbach would fulfil those roles.

The post became vacant when he was elected parliamentary leader to serve as a bridge between the party’s caucus and federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis. It is the prerogative of the parliamentary leader to appoint a chief whip of his choice.

“Breytenbach brings 12 years of experience in Parliament and decades before that as a senior state prosecutor to this position. She will be the custodian of Parliament’s rules and procedures on the part of the DA,” Michalakis said in a statement.

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“She will also,alongside myself,be the party’s chief negotiator within the GNU in Parliament.”

READ | Parliament an anchor for DA,says new parliamentary leader George Michalakis

Michalakis noted that Breytenbach had been the DA’s spokesperson on justice ever since becoming a member in 2014.

“During 10 of those years,I was her DA counterpart in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Through this,the DA is sending a clear message that safety and security are a top priority for us in Parliament,in line with the federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis’ vision,” he said.

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He added that Breytenbach would,alongside deputy chief whip Bax Nodada,be responsible for 13 National Assembly whips,and 12 NCOP members.

“And I have no doubt that they will make a formidable team.”

The deputy chief whip and the other party whips are elected by the caucus.

Breytenbach is a member of the ad hoc committee investigating the underworld’s alleged infiltration of the criminal justice system,where her uncompromising questioning style became the stuff of viral social media content.

She will also represent the DA on the impeachment committee that will investigate the Phala Phala allegations against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Furthermore,Breytenbach has three private member’s bills before the National Assembly – one to amend the Constitution to create a Chapter 9 institution to investigate corruption,another to establish a Cyber Commissioner as a Chapter 9 institution to deal with cybercrime,and a third to amend the Constitution to prevent removed judges and Chapter 9 heads from becoming members of Parliament or legislatures.