First sitting of 7th administration to take place on Friday

The first sitting of the National Assembly will take place this coming Friday. This was confirmed by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on Monday.

According to the Constitution, the first sitting must take place at a time and date determined by the chief Justice, but not more than 14 days after the election results have been declared.

PHOTO: CTICC

Last week, Zondo received a list of public representatives who will be representing various political parties in the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures.

During the first sitting, the chief justice will administer the swearing-in of new members of the National Assembly. This will be followed by the election of the speaker, who must in turn preside over the election of the deputy speaker.

“This is an oath or affirmation of faithfulness to the Republic and obedience to the Constitution, which section 48 of the Constitution requires members of the National Assembly to take before they may perform their duties as members of the National Assembly,” Zondo said in a statement.

The president is the last to be elected by the House.

The first sitting of the National Council of Provinces is scheduled for Saturday.

“The Chief Justice will swear in and administer the prescribed affirmation to members of the NCOP and thereafter preside over the election of the Chairperson of the NCOP. Thereafter, the chairperson of the NCOP will preside over the election of the Deputy chairperson of the NCOP,” the statement said.

The office says the first sittings of Provincial Legislatures will be determined by judges-presidents in the provinces.

“In terms of the Constitution, such sittings are also required to take place not more than 14 days after the declaration of election results.

The judges-president will administer the prescribed oath or affirmation to members of the Provincial Legislatures, preside over the election of the speaker of the legislature, and the election of the premier,” the statement said.

The sitting of the National Assembly and the NCOP will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

The process is set to go ahead despite legal challenges by uMkhonto weSizwe. The MK party argues that this process should be halted until it can challenge the validity of the election results as declared by the Independent Electoral Commission.

 

Done by: Mitchum George