NEWS: New SA’s Youngest Ever Member Of Parliament Aged Just 20

New SA’s Youngest Ever Member Of Parliament Aged Just 20 

 The upcoming seventh democratic Parliament of South Africa is set to feature a broader spectrum of age groups among its representatives, as well as the youngest Member of Parliament (MPs) in South Africa’s democratic history.

This comes as female representation shows a slight decrease compared to the previous administration.

All eyes are now focused on the forthcoming make-up of the 400-seat National Assembly (NA), who according to chairperson of the Electoral Commission (IEC) Mosotho Moepya “reflect the choices, hopes, and aspirations of millions of citizens who exercised their democratic rights.”

Moepya revealed that the NA can expect a slightly younger average Parliamentary fleet compared to that seen in the sixth administration, with members ranging from 20 to the eldest at 76.

According to information provided by the IEC, the youngest incoming parliamentarian is Patriotic Alliance youth activist Cleo Wilskut, who turned 20 on 27 April.

Wilskut will follow in the footsteps of the ANC’s Itumeleng Ntsube, who, at 21, previously became South Africa’s youngest MP in 2019.

Notably, these young political leaders are debuting in parliament as some of the highest-paid individuals in the country, with MPs now earning over 100,000 Rands a month (8-million naira) following president Cyril Ramaphosa’s approval to hike salaries by 2.5%.

This makes all MPs—young and old—top 3% earners in the country.

Looking broadly at the seventh National Assembly’s composition compared to that of South Africa’s population, the 20 to 29 age demographic has the largest discrepancies in representation, sporting a 3% NA makeup when the cohort is nearly 18% of South Africa’s total population.

South Africa’s new MPs will be sworn in on Friday, 14 June.

Talks to form a Government of National Unity continue since the ruling ANC failed to garner an outright majority in the May 29 general elections.