The first sitting of the National Assembly is expected to be held at 10am on Friday, the Office of Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said on Monday.
Millions of South Africans cast their votes on May 29 in the country’s most contested elections since the dawn of democracy in 1994.
Section 51(1) of the constitution empowers the chief justice to call the first sitting of the National Assembly after national elections.
“During the first sitting of parliament, the chief justice will administer the prescribed oath or affirmation, as the case may be, to members of the National Assembly, said Zondo’s office in a statement.
“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.”
The selection of the National Assembly speaker by the members will come before this.
Chief justice to preside over election of president
“Once the speaker of the National Assembly has been elected, he or she will then preside over the election of the deputy speaker.
“After the deputy speaker has been elected, the chief justice will then take over again and preside over the election of the president.”
The first sitting of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) is expected to be held on Saturday.
Reads the statement: “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.”
Provincial legislatures
The chief justice has designated judges-presidents in the provinces to “determine the first sittings of the provincial legislatures in their respective 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,” according to the statement.
“The judges-president will administer the prescribed oath or affirmation to members of the provincial legislatures and preside over the election of the speaker of the legislature and the election of the premier.”
The sitting of the National Assembly and the NCOP will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. – SAnews.gov.za
