The National Assembly of South Africa has confirmed the first sitting of the National Assembly will go ahead as scheduled.
This comes after some political parties, chief among them the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party led by Former President Jacob Zuma, said they will not attend the first sitting.
On Sunday, the MKP said the swearing-in of National Assembly members should not go ahead until irregularities regarding the recent general elections are resolved.
However, the Secretary to the National Assembly Masibulele Xaso said the sitting will go ahead because the National Assembly is constituted. Said Xaso (via SABC):
In terms of the law, we have 400 members, and those members have now been elected. The names have been given to the Chief Justice and in turn given to Parliament. So, as far as we’re concerned, we have elected Members of Parliament.
All that we will be doing in the first sitting is to enable those members to take the oath or affirmation and to be activated to function as Members of Parliament.
MK says if its 58 members did not attend the first sitting, a quorum would not be met.
However, expelled MK party founder, Jabulani Khumalo said he will go ahead in attending parliament’s first sitting.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has officially set a date for the first sitting of the National Assembly for Friday, 14 June 2024 at 10 AM.
Experts say only 134 members were needed to reach a quorum.
Meanwhile, Parliament says it has cancelled all flight and accommodation arrangements for members of the MKP, in light of the party informing the institution that they will not attend the first sitting.
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