Parliament’s Presiding Officers, National Assembly Speaker, Mr Max Sisulu, and National Council of Provinces Chairperson, Mr Mninwa Mahlangu, have responded to a request from Democratic Alliance Parliamentary Leader Ms Lindiwe Mazibuko to call a joint sitting to enable President of the United States of America, Mr Barack Obama, to address Parliament.
Joint sittings to enable a visiting head of state, who is a guest of the President, to address Parliament are, as a rule, requested by the President of the Republic when Parliament is in session. Parliament will be in recess from 24 June to 19 July and Members of Parliament have constituency engagements during this time.
The request for the joint sitting cannot, therefore, be acceded to.
