Within a week, 400 politicians will be sworn in as members of Parliament.
Of the 18 parties in the 7th Parliament, 11 were re-elected and seven were represented in Parliament for the first time.
These new parties, namely, Uniting South Africa (Bosa), Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), National Coloured Congress (NCC), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Rise Mzansi, Action SA and the United Africans for Transformation (UAT) are some of the new political parties that have emerged in the 7th Parliament.
NCC leader Fadiel Adams is a former Cape Town city councillor and his party currently holds two seats in Parliament.
Adams says the NA's journey hasn't been easy: “Going into Parliament as a brand new party with no funding is unthinkable. We've achieved the unthinkable and now it feels fantastic to take it further.”
Another newcomer is Songezo Zibi, a former journalist and activist who is a member of the Rise Mzansi party.
“I'm a little nervous because it's a big responsibility. I'm a little scared because I don't know how my performance is going to be. I just want to do the best I can and show that I take my job seriously.”
They both say holding government accountable is their top priority.
They say they understand the weight of the responsibility that rests on them.
Video: New faces in parliament:
