Parliament said it’s all systems go for Friday’s first sittings of the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) which is expected to sit on Saturday.
These inaugural sittings will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
Parliament said the first sittings of both houses represent not only the establishment of this new parliamentary term but also the institutionalisation and expression of the electoral will of the people of South Africa as voiced in the recent elections.
“The people have spoken. They have chosen a Parliament that will represent them, as freely elected representatives as reflected in the preamble of the Constitution, to champion their causes, and serve their interests for the next five years,” said Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George, during a media briefing in Cape Town, where he outlined the state of the institution’s readiness.
According to George, following the swearing-in ceremony, the Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will also preside over the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
“Once elected, the newly appointed Speaker will take over the proceedings and preside over the election of the Deputy Speaker.
These elections are crucial for the proper constitution of the National Assembly, as they ensure the leadership structure is in place to guide the House’s functions and duties.
With the Speaker and Deputy Speaker elected, the National Assembly will then be constitutionally competent to proceed with its first major task, the election of the man or woman from amongst the Members of the Assembly, to be inaugurated as the President of the Republic,” explained George.
He highlighted that this is a crucial process, as it sets the stage for the formation of the new administration that will govern the country.
George said that once elected as President by the (NA), the President-elect must assume office within five days by taking an oath or affirming their faithfulness to the Republic and their obedience to the Constitution.
The inauguration of the President-elect is scheduled for 19 June 2024 in Pretoria.
This will then be followed by the appointment of the cabinet, and the convening of a joint sitting of the newly established two Houses of Parliament to deliver the Opening of Parliament Address.
George said the establishment of the 7th democratic Parliament involves significant logistical and operational expenditures.
“While the actual budget costs for the commencement of the 7th Parliament will be released later, we can confirm that approximately R58 million has been set aside for this purpose.
This allocation covers a wide range of necessities, including the preparation of parliamentary precincts, the provision of tools of trade for MPs, the facilitation of initial sessions and inductions, as well as the broadcasting infrastructure for all the dates of the sittings, including the Opening of Parliament Address by the new President,” explained George.
