A press conference is held by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) at the National Results Operations Center in Midrand, South Africa, on June 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
South Africa's National Assembly will hold its first sitting Friday to elect the speaker, deputy speaker and the president of the country for the next five years, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said Monday.
JOHANNESBURG, June 11 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's National Assembly will hold its first sitting Friday to elect the speaker, deputy speaker and the president of the country for the next five years, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said Monday.
This follows the country's 2024 general elections on May 29 where members of the National Assembly and provincial legislatures were elected. The law requires the first sitting of the National Assembly to take place within 14 days after the announcement of the election results.
An electronic screen shows the final results of seat allocation in the National Assembly in South Africa's 2024 general elections in Midrand, South Africa, June 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
"Chief Justice Zondo has determined that the first sitting of the National Assembly shall be on Friday," said a statement issued by the Office of Chief Justice. "During the first sitting of parliament, the chief justice will administer the prescribed oath or affirmation, as the case may be, to members of the National Assembly."
According to the statement, after legislators are sworn in, Zondo will preside over the election of the speaker of the National Assembly, who will then preside over the election of the deputy speaker.
"After the deputy speaker is elected, the chief justice will then take over again and preside over the election of the president," said the statement.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers a speech during a press conference announcing the election result at the National Results Operations Center in Midrand, South Africa, on June 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
As far as the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), or the upper house of the parliament, is concerned, the chief justice has determined that its first sitting will be held Saturday.
"The chief justice will swear in, and administer the prescribed affirmation to members of the NCOP and thereafter preside over the election of the chairperson of the NCOP. Thereafter, the chairperson of the NCOP will preside over the election of the deputy chairperson of the NCOP," the statement said.
Zondo has also designated judges-president in the provinces of the country to determine the first sittings of the provincial legislatures in their respective provinces.
On June 2, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced the final results of the 2024 national and provincial elections. The IEC then handed over the lists of the members of parliament and members of provincial legislatures to Zondo who, in turn, handed them to the secretary of parliament in preparation for the first sitting of the National Assembly. ■
