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Sixth democratic SA Parliament first sitting on Wednesday

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Sixth democratic SA Parliament first sitting on Wednesday

 Sixth democratic SA Parliament first sitting on Wednesday

20th May 2019

By: African News Agency

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The first sittings of the two Houses of Parliament – the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) - will be on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
 
In a statement on Monday Parliament said that the National Assembly will have 400 members represented from 14 political parties while the NCOP will be composed of 10 permanent and non-permanent delegates from each of the nine provinces. 

"Four of them are special delegates and six are permanent delegates. Political parties are entitled to delegates in line with their share of seats in the provincial legislatures," said the statement. 

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When a Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) gets appointed as a permanent delegate to the NCOP, he or she ceases to be a member of that provincial legislature. 
 
"The sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday will commence with the ceremonial procession. The chief justice, the acting secretary to Parliament and secretary to the National Assembly will be led by the sergeant-at-arms into the National Assembly Chamber," the statement said.
 
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng will preside over the swearing-in of the designated Members of Parliament who would choose to either take the oath or affirmation. This can be done in any of the 11 official languages of the country. 
 
After all members have been sworn in, the chief justice presides over the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly.  The chief justice calls for nominations for the position of speaker from among the members of the National Assembly. 

"If more than one nomination is received, the chief justice conducts a secret ballot election. The newly elected Speaker would follow the same procedure when presiding over election of the deputy speaker," said the statement.
 
"At the conclusion of the election of the presiding officers, the chief justice again takes over and presides over the election of the president."
 
Mogoeng has also designated the Judges President of the divisions of the high court to preside over the first sittings of the Provincial Legislatures that will run concurrently with the National Assembly session. 

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Members of the provincial legislatures will be sworn and premiers and speakers will be elected at these sitting. 
 
On Thursday the first sitting of the NCOP will be presided over by the Chief Justice Mogoeng. 

"The Usher of the Black Rod will announce the chief justice as he enters the NCOP Chamber to preside over the swearing-in or affirmation of faithfulness to the Republic of South Africa and obedience to the constitution from the House’s permanent delegates," said the statement. 
 
At this sitting, the chief justice will also preside over the election of the chairperson of the NCOP from the among the permanent delegates. 

If more than one candidate is nominated, a vote must be taken by secret ballot, at which each province present may cast one vote. The Chairperson will then preside over the election of the deputy chairperson, House chairpersons and the chief whip of the NCOP. 
 
The leader of the African National Congress Cyril Ramaphosa, who will be the president-elect, is going to be inaugurated on Saturday as president of the Republic of South Africa and head of state.
 
"Once these processes have been completed, the National Assembly and the NCOP will establish their governance structures to undertake their normal roles, responsibilities and duties," explained the statement.
 
The president is expected to deliver the State of the Nation Address to a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the NCOP to officially open the sixth democratic Parliament on the provisionally scheduled date of 20 June 2019.

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