The first sitting of the National Assembly will commence at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday, 14 June.
Also read: Elections: Parties to approach ANC regarding government of national unity
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo made the announcement earlier today amid swearing-in preparations. As reported by Daily Maverick, 400 members of parliament (MPs) are to be sworn in on Friday in what has been termed a ‘national unity government’ by the African National Congress (ANC).
The ANC proposed a ‘national government of unity’ on 7 June amid coalition talks after its support dropped to 40% in this year’s elections. As a result, it can not form a government on its own.
In response, the Democratic Alliance (DA), which got 21% of the vote and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which got 3.9%, have been meeting with the ANC, as well as the EFF, Patriotic Alliance and MK Party.
‘The Secretary to Parliament has received formal correspondence in this regard and will henceforth make the necessary arrangements for the first sitting of the National Assembly to take place in accordance with the determination made by the Chief Justice,’ Zondo said in a statement.
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A speaker will be elected once MPs are sworn in by the chief justice, after which the speaker will preside over the election of the deputy speaker.
The chief justice will then take the presiding chair for the election of the president. However, if multiple nominations occur, the election will go to a secret ballot.
The chief justice also announced that the National Council of Provinces (Ncop) will be sworn in on Saturday, 15 June.
However, the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party will not attend the first sitting. The party announced earlier today that it intends to interdict the first sitting of the National Assembly, stating that it is ‘unconstitutional’.
‘We argue that unresolved objections and the veracity of the substance by MK Party and other political parties who represent the will of the people, render this “market-based” declaration, and consequently sitting and all its activities unconstitutional,’ the party wrote in a statement.
‘Furthermore, and in defence of our people’s constitutional rights, the MK Party will file papers with the constitutional court to interdict the swearing-in of party-nominated candidates as members of the National Assembly until our grievances, which are premised on allegation of (…) election fraud and rigging, are thoroughly assessed by the courts.
‘Legally, the absence of MK Party members will prevent achieving the composition of the 350 required to lawfully constitute the National Assembly, further invalidating the session which aims to appoint a president and therefore the government of the country,’ it stated.
BREAKING NEWS:
MK party intends interdicting the convening of the unconstitutional sitting of inaugural session of the National Assembly. All votes must be counted. pic.twitter.com/aFp37xXhC0— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (@MkhontoweSizwex) June 9, 2024
The Parliament of South Africa acknowledged MK Party’s letter and their plan to challenge election results. However, it stated that it disagreed with their interpretation of Section 46 of the Constitution, which determines the number of seats in the National Assembly.
‘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,’ it said, adding that it must ensure that ‘the sittings proceed as directed’ in terms of section 49(3) of the Constitution.
‘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, to attend these sittings and the associated onboarding activities scheduled in Cape Town,’ it continued.
‘In light of the MK Party’s expressed decision, through their legal representatives, not to attend the first sitting, Parliament has cancelled all arrangements for accommodation and flights for the party’s elected members.’
It further stated that this measure is to ‘avoid incurring fruitless and wasteful expenditure, in compliance with the Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, 2009’.
‘We remain dedicated to ensuring that the established democratic processes and procedures are upheld in accordance with the laws and Constitution of our country,’ it concluded.
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Picture: Sharon Seretlo / Gallo Images