Sisulu resigns from parliament

AXED National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu has resigned as an ANC MP, just a week after being overlooked for the position in favour of the party's national chairwoman, Baleka Mbete.

The office of ANC chief whip Stone Sizani confirmed last night that Sisulu had stepped down, with spokesman Moloto Mothapo saying he received the former's speaker's letter yesterday.

ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said Sisulu had not provided "substantive reasons" for his stepping down.

Speculation went into overdrive in parliament last week that it was just a matter of time before Sisulu resigned from the legislature immediately after ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe announced Sisulu would be replaced by Mbete.

Insiders at parliament said Sisulu's resignation and his being overlooked by the ANC was not surprising given how he had presided over the National Assembly since 2009 as speaker.

Sisulu is said to have annoyed the ANC's top brass by allowing debates that caused political embarrassment to the ruling party, such as the debate on the Guptagate scandal and his handling of the Nkandla report. - Thabo Mokone