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On 6 February 2018, two days before the scheduled State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Presiding Officers of Parliament announced their decision to postpone the flagship event due to the serious circumstances within and outside the institution.

They indicated, at the time, that the outcome of the thorough consultative process, including with the President of the Republic, the Leader of Government Business, the Chief Whip of the Majority Party and other key stakeholders, warranted the difficult decision of the SONA postponement until a conducive environment obtained.

Parliament appreciates the sense of anxiety and uncertainty amongst many South Africans regarding this protracted process. The new developments announced today, therefore, seek to bring this matter to its conclusion in the best interests of South Africa and her people.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa confers the powers to appoint and remove the President of the Republic of South Africa on the National Assembly. The President is elected in terms of Section 86 of the Constitution. His or her term of office begins on assuming office and ends upon a vacancy occurring or when the person next elected President resumes office.

A decision was taken to hold a sitting of the National Assembly to consider a proposed Motion of No Confidence in the President of the Republic, Mr JG Zuma, for Thursday, 15 February 2018. The motion was initially scheduled for 22 February 2018 taking into account the programme of the National Assembly. The request for the scheduling of this motion was made by the Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters.

The decision to schedule this motion for tomorrow, Thursday 15 February, was made after consultation with the Leader of Government Business and the Chief Whip of the Majority Party and was supported by various political parties represented on the National Assembly’s Programme Committee.

The voting on the Motion will by open ballot.

Also agreed at this afternoon’s multiparty National Assembly Programme Committee meeting was the following:

• Election of the new President at 10.00 on Friday, 16 February, subject to a directive of the Chief Justice to that effect
• Joint sitting of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces at 19.00 on Friday, 16 February for the President to deliver the 2018 State of the Nation Address
• Joint sitting of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces on Monday, 19 February, to debate the President’s State of the Nation Address
• Reply by the President to the debate on Tuesday, 20 February
• Budget Speech at 14.00 on 21 February

Should the Motion of No Confidence succeed against the President, the Speaker will officially inform Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng about the outcome and request him to determine an appropriate date for the election of a new President by the National Assembly.

The Chief Justice is responsible for presiding over the election of a new President, or may designate another judge to do so. In terms of Section 86(3), an election to fill a vacancy in the office of President must be held at a time and on a date determined by the Chief Justice, but not more than 30 days after the occurrence of the vacancy.

Once the Chief Justice has written to the Speaker calling for the meeting of the Assembly at a time and date he deems appropriate to elect a President in terms of section 86(3) of the Constitution, his letter will be published in the Parliamentary journals for the attention of Members of Parliament.

The Presiding Officers of Parliament once again extend appreciation to all South Africans for their patience, understanding and admirable sense of patriotism during this critical period in our country.

With the announcement of the SONA date, Parliament is already underway with finalising preparations, which were already at an advanced stage, to realise a successful ceremony on Friday. This includes contacting all guests to inform them of the new date and to finalise their accreditation process.
 

Issued by Parliament of South Africa