Annelie Lotriet

"I want Parliament to be a place where people can voice their concerns, a place where they can be heard"

"True equality means women having the right to make decisions about their own lives—where they want to live, what they want to do, whether they want children or not"

"Electing the speaker was easy, because we would support the ANC, but then the next test was, are they going to support me? Because they've never supported any other party. You’re overwhelmed because you don’t know. And it took long, I was only elected that night, a bit of an unreal moment"

"I want to contribute to the orderly functioning of Parliament and ensure decisions are made in a reasonable time. I aim to make Parliament a place where people can be heard"

"I think it's extremely good for democracy. The ANC's control of everything wasn't good for democracy or the ANC itself. Now, with different parties holding committee chairs, there's better accountability. It's a win-win for everyone—for the ANC, for the country, and for the voters"

"t’s just the tip of the iceberg. Real equal rights are still lacking for women on the ground. We still have a patriarchal system, as seen in gender-based violence and the burdens women carry as providers and carers"

"I live in a house with men, so for me, it's the sensitivity and caring element. In a man's world, you do whatever needs to be done, but women often have a different approach. We look for solutions and try to ease conflicts. That's what I intend to bring to my new role"