Francois Beukman of the NNP was elected chairperson of parliament's influential watchdog committee on public accounts on Wednesday.
Beukman was appointed as part of the co-operative deal which is being thrashed out by the ANC and the New National Party. His appointment follows the resignation earlier this year of former chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), Gavin Woods.
Woods, of the IFP, said his resignation had been prompted by interference by the executive in the committee's work, particularly in relation to the arms deal probe, and ongoing party political squabbles.
Beukman was nominated by the African National Congress. The Democratic Alliance's nominee, Nigel Bruce, was defeated in a vote.
Beukman said he would work hard to heal the rift in the committee which previously operated on a non-partisan basis and that he would strive to rebuild the Scopa team as well as re-establish confidence in the committee.
The status of the committee and its image as the watchdog committee on public finances had to be firmly established, he added.
Beukman said he would adopt a "consultative style". - Own correspondent