The appointments of people to leadership positions communicate, often, deeply held convictions or intentions. The appointments sometimes tell us all we need to know about whether or not the appointing authority is raising the bar.

The expected election of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as speaker of the national assembly represents an elevation to the highest position she has ever held. Before we congratulate her on this once-in-a-lifetime change in her life, we must consider why we believe she was appointed in the first place.

Could it be that the appointing authority, in this case President Cyril Ramaphosa, was perhaps so unhappy with her performance as defence minister he decided to promote her? ..