After two weeks of uproar, court applications, intense behind-the-scenes negotiations and waiting, the long-awaited inaugural sittings of the National Assembly and the crucial KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provincial assemblies will convene at 10am today.
Read | MG Union Hub
14/06 10:00
DA councillors confirmed there was no agreement on who would be speaker – M.C. Ferreira
“The clock is ticking,” one MP told the M&G 20 minutes before the session was due to begin.
Rise Mzansi's Sabine Meave said her party believes “a party that leads the executive cannot lead the legislature”. But the ANC does not agree, which is also the DA's view.
Rise Mzansi supports Cyril Ramaphosa's presidential bid.
The party has yet to complete coalition talks with the ANC, which are due to resume after Friday's parliamentary session.
Developments at the first session of the Diet
Parliament, Friday, June 14, 2024 – Today marks the first sitting of the National Assembly (NA) as decided by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. The first sitting is a formal meeting where designated members are sworn in and a Speaker is elected to form the National Assembly.
The first meeting of the National Provincial Council is scheduled to be held tomorrow, 15 June, at the Cape Town International Conference Centre.
The NA is elected to represent the people and ensure that under the Constitution, government is run by the people. It does this by electing the president, convening national forums for public debate on important issues, passing laws, and overseeing the executive branch.
During today’s hearing, Chief Justice Zondo will preside over the hearing and administer the oath of all the designated judges attending the hearing.
After the members are sworn in, they will nominate their candidate for Speaker.
Election of the Chairperson
Chief Justice Zondo will call for nominations for candidates in the NA chairperson election and will announce the names of those duly nominated.
If only one valid nomination is received, Chief Justice Zondo will declare the nominated candidate duly elected.
If there is more than one valid nomination, the vote will be taken by secret ballot and the process will be suspended until the result is announced to the House.
After the selected candidates have been announced, the Chairman shall take his seat, express his gratitude for the honour bestowed upon him, and preside over the election of the Vice-Chairman.
Election of Vice-Chair
The Chair will call for nominations for the Vice Chair election.
The Chair will announce the names of those officially nominated.
If only one valid nomination is received, the Chair will declare the nominated candidate duly elected.
If more than one valid candidate is nominated, members will vote by secret ballot and the process will be suspended until the results of the vote are known.
After the announcement of the selected candidate, the Vice-Chair will express his/her feelings about the honour bestowed upon that candidate.
The proceedings will be adjourned until 14:00.
Once the Chamber of Deputies reconvenes, the elections for the President of the Republic will begin.
Presidential Elections
The Speaker shall take the presiding seat and order the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to act as presiding.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has asked lawmakers to nominate candidates for the presidential elections.
The Chief Justice will announce the name of the person officially nominated.
If only one valid nomination is received, the Chief Justice will declare the nominated candidate duly elected.
If there is more than one valid nomination, the vote will be taken by secret ballot and the process will be suspended until the result is announced to the House.
The Speaker then takes the chair and invites each political party and the President-elect to address the House.
The Speaker adjourns the House.
Issued by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
14/06 06:00
Unity government overcomes first hurdle, President Cyril Ramaphosa awaits second term
President Cyril Ramaphosa's proposed national unity government appears to have overcome the first hurdle, with agreement on the speaker, deputy speaker and president set to open Parliament on Friday.
The ANC secured the support of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Rise Mzansi and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) in this crucial vote, but at the time of writing the proposal is still being debated in the national executive committee.
The two parties have reached a broad agreement on how to work together and are working out the details of what roles each party will have in the new government ahead of their first session on Friday.
It was not immediately clear whether the DA would appoint him to a cabinet post or to chair a parliamentary committee and help the ANC in key votes.
Read the full article by our Politics team here
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Chief Justice Raymond Zondo at the Election Results Processing Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, following South Africa's May 29 general election. (Photo by Sydney Setsibedi/Galo Images via Getty Images)
