At midnight tonight – just hours before South Africa’s fifth democratic election gets into full swing countrywide – the term of the National Assembly (NA) will expire.
The NA and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) had their last sittings in March.
However, the term of Permanent Delegates of the NCOP continues until immediately before the first sittings of the Provincial Legislatures, after tomorrow’s election. The NA remains competent to function until midnight tonight.
Special votes and those from South Africans living abroad have already been cast and these together with the results of Wednesday’s polling are expected to be declared by the end of the week.
The declaration of the election results will indicate which parties obtained enough votes to secure representation in the NA and the extent of that representation. The names of NA members-elect are expected to be finalised by next week.
The declaration of election results will also indicate party strength in Provincial Legislatures and this will determine the number of delegates to which parties are entitled in the NCOP.
The NA and NCOP first sittings will occur on consecutive days - on 21 May for the NA and 22 May for the NCOP. Both sittings will start at 10.30.
To fit in with the first sittings of the two Houses of Parliament, the first sittings of Provincial Legislatures are all anticipated to take place at 10.30 on Wednesday, 21 May. These Provincial Legislatures will appoint Permanent Delegates to the NCOP and also elect their Premiers and Provincial Speakers.
At its first sitting, on 21 May, Members of the NA will elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the NA and also the President of the Republic.
Permanent Delegates, at the first sitting of the NCOP on 22 May, will elect the NCOP Chairperson, two Deputy Chairpersons and other Presiding Officers.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, or a judge designated by him, calls the first sittings of both the NA and the NCOP and presides over the election of the NA Speaker, the President of the Republic and the NCOP Chairperson.
