By Angela Quintal
The African National Congress has had an apparent change of heart, nominating the New National Party's Francois Beukmann as chairperson of parliament's ad hoc standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), at least for now.
The ANC came under fire in May for adopting a winner-takes-all approach in the National Assembly, announcing that 30 of its MPs were to serve as interim chairs pending an overhaul of parliament's committee system.
ANC MP Vincent Smith was then named as Scopa's interim chair.
Beukman used to chair the committee in the previous parliament, in line with the ANC's co-operation pact with the NNP.
Scopa will hold its first meeting next week where Beukmann will be elected interim chairperson.