Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George, has described the first sittings of the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) as a reflection of the electoral mandate of the people of South Africa, as expressed in the recent 2024 National & Provincial Elections (2024 NPE).
“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.’’
COURTESY: X - @ParliamentofRSAGeorge held a media briefing on Thursday as Parliament
gears up to host the first sittings of the two Houses of Parliament – National Assembly;
National Council of Provinces (NCOP) - scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
The inaugural sittings will take place at the Cape Town
International Convention Centre (CTICC).
Friday’s proceedings will also see Members of Parliament
(MPs) electing a President who will form the seventh administration to govern
the nation.
“This collective effort underscores our commitment to
upholding the democratic principles underpinning our Constitution and ensuring
that the will of the people is effectively translated into action. With each
step in this constitutional process having been meticulously followed and
adhered to, we now stand at the cusp of yet another critical milestone in the
history of our constitutional democracy.”
“Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has diligently complied with
these constitutional obligations, ensuring that the two Houses of Parliament hold
their first sittings within the prescribed 14-day period as mandated by the
Constitution.”
The Chief Justice will open the session and preside over
the swearing-in of all the permanent delegates appointed by their respective
provinces.
“This will follow the first sittings of the provincial
legislatures to elect permanent and non-permanent delegates to the NCOP. After
presiding over the swearing-in of the 54 designated permanent delegates, the
Chief Justice will also chair the election of the Chairperson of the Council.”
Once elected, the new Chairperson will take over the
proceedings and preside over the election of the Deputy Chairpersons. Following
the swearing-in ceremony, Chief Justice Zondo will also preside over the
election of the Speaker of the NA and then he or she will take over the
proceedings and preside over the election of the Deputy Speaker.
Once the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected, George
explained that the NA will then be constitutionally competent to proceed with
electing a Member of the Assembly to be inaugurated as the President.
George assured citizens that all necessary voting
infrastructure has been meticulously prepared to ensure a smooth and secure
election process. This includes the setup of voting booths for privacy, the
provision of ballot boxes for the collection of votes, the preparation of the
voters’ roll to verify eligible voters, and the availability of safety boxes
for the secure safekeeping of ballot papers.
“We are fully prepared for the first sittings ... Our
comprehensive preparations ensure that every aspect of these inaugural
sessions, from logistical arrangements to security measures, have been
meticulously planned and implemented. We are confident that the proceedings
will unfold smoothly and effectively, marking the successful commencement of
the 7th democratic Parliament,” said Xolile George, Secretary to Parliament.
It’s all systems go for the #FirstSitting of the National Assembly of the #7thParliament scheduled for tomorrow. During the sitting, designated Members of Parliament will be sworn in and then elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and the President of the… pic.twitter.com/MR7Vxp4WKj
Done by: Mitchum George
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