Parliament has decided to cancel flights and accommodation arrangements for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s 58 MPs ahead of the first sitting of the National Assembly.
Moloto Mothapo, the spokesperson for parliament, said the decision was taken after the MK Party informed parliament, through its lawyers, that it would boycott the sitting.
Mothapo said the cancellations would help parliament avoid incurring wasteful expenditures.
The MK Party wrote a letter to parliament informing it that it was challenging the validity of the 2024 election results and that its MPs would boycott the sitting because it was “unconstitutional”.
Sitting must go ahead
“Parliament has taken note of the letter from the MK Party informing the institution of its intention to challenge the validity of the election results as declared by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC),” said Mothapo.
“Parliament does not agree with the MK Party’s interpretation of Section 46 of the constitution.
“Parliament is of the view that it is legally bound to facilitate the first sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces at a date and time determined by the chief justice, and there are no legal impediments preventing this process.”
According to Mothapo, parliament must make sure that the sittings go as planned up until and unless a court overturns the election results.
“Because the first sittings of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces will take place physically, the parliamentary administration is in the process of making arrangements to provide travel and accommodation for all members listed by the IEC, as handed over by the Chief Justice [Raymond Zondo], to attend these sittings and the associated onboarding activities scheduled in Cape Town.
National Assembly has 400 seats
Parliament, according to Mothapo, reaffirms its commitment to carrying out its responsibilities under the constitution in the scheduling of the first sittings of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.
“We remain dedicated to ensuring that the established democratic processes and procedures are upheld in accordance with the laws and constitution of our country.”
The ANC won the national elections with 40.18%, the DA came in second with 21.81%, the MK Party came in third with 14.58%, and the EFF received 9.52% votes.
The parties that will be represented in the National Assembly are ANC with 159 seats, DA (87 seats), MK Party (58 seats), EFF (39 seats), IFP (17 seats), PA (nine seats), VF Plus (six seats), ActionSA (six seats), ACDP (three seats), UDM (three seats), ATM (two seats), AlJama (two seats), Bosa (two seats), NCC (two seats), Rise Mzansi (two seats), Good, PAC, and UAT (one seat each).
The National Assembly has a total of 400 seats.
