The new speaker of the Free State provincial assembly, Mxolisi Dukwana, said he had no objections to his election.
Dukwana, a former prime minister, was elected following the resignation of Speaker Ntombobizanele Sifuva.
Mr Sifuba is the new MEC for sport, arts and culture, while Nolita Ndungane is Mr Dukwana's deputy MEC.
Dukwana was appointed unopposed at a special hearing presided over by High Court Judge Cagney Mmusi.
He will serve as Premier of the Free State province from February 2023 to June 2024.
His appointment as speaker is seen by some as a way to keep peace within the African National Congress (ANC) in the state.
This comes as some are pondering his future following the election of McQueen Letsoha-Matae as the state's new premier.
Dukwana wants to bring people with different views together in parliament to work together.
“Our people are tolerant, we accept each other and we find ways to work together. And this is what I bring to the forefront to bring people together, as a strength to plug loopholes and build bridges to unite people, and this is what I am trying to do in this role. But it is also important to ensure that young people are actively involved in shaping their own destiny.”
Political analyst Setsulego Matebesi said ANC decisions could cause division among party members and that Dukwana's new deployment could be a way for the party to appease him.
“I strongly believe that this is clearly a move to appease a former premier and provincial speaker, not to give him the cold shoulder. And the question is what kind of divisions such a move will cause in the province… I strongly believe that because he is the speaker and now the speaker of the provincial assembly, he will probably try to control everybody,” Matebesi said.
African Congress for Transformation (ACT) provincial member of parliament David Mkhabela says he is here to serve the interests of the people of the Free State province.
Video: Mxolisi Dukwana elected Free State provincial chairperson:
