South Africa’s Parliament on Sunday said it was ready to welcome a new cohort of Members of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) following the just-ended national and provincial elections.
The announcement follows the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)’s declaration of results of the sixth national and provincial Elections on Saturday night.
“Following months of intense preparations for the establishment of the sixth democratic Parliament, Parliament is ready to welcome new members of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces,” the law-making body said.
According to the country’s constitution, both Houses of Parliament must be established within 14 days of the IEC’s declaring results of the election.
The first sitting of the national assembly is provisionally scheduled for 22 May and that of the NCOP for 23 May. These dates, however, are subject to an official announcement by the Chief Justice of South Africa.
The House has 400 members of Parliament. Some 90 members of the NCOP are expected to represent their nine provinces in Cape Town.
NM/jn/APA