The perks of being an MP

Parliament’s two Houses, the National Assembly (NA) and National Council of Provinces (NCOP), have just concluded their first sittings – where Members of Parliament were sworn in, and the President was formally elected along with the Speaker of the NA, the Chairperson of the NCOP, and other relevant office bearers. ...

NCOP subdued as Members sworn in, Chairperson elected

Parliament’s second House, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), held it’s first sitting today, 22 May, where 54 permanent delegates representing their respective provinces were sworn in. Unlike yesterday’s lengthy and robust first sitting of the National Assembly (NA), the NCOP sitting proved to be more sedate, with the entire ...

Madam Speaker retakes the gavel, JZ elected unopposed for second term

Today, 21 May, marked the first sitting of the Fifth democratic Parliament with the National Assembly meeting to swear in Members of Parliament (MP), choose a Speaker and Deputy Speaker and formally elect the President of the Republic.

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng called upon all 400 NA MPs, 10 at ...

MPs being sworn in: The process

Today, ahead of the first sitting of Parliament tomorrow, ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe, announced that Max Sisulu will not be returning as Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), and that the nomination for Speaker of the House is party stalwart Baleka Mbete. Lechesa Tsenoli has been named as the ...

Zackie Achmat on the election results and what they mean

South African activist, Zachie Achmat expressed his views at the Hanns Seidel Foundation’s roundtable discussion regarding this year’s election results.

Achmat said the results affirmed the “enormous class and race divide” in our society due to people’s failure to vote. Over 40% of the electoral did not participate in elections. ...

ANC’s decline: Fact or Fable?

This year’s election results was no surprise for the South African people, with the leading party still holding the majority vote with 62%. But, what was not expected was where the decrease in voter percentage came from.

Political analyst and Professor, Steven Friedman, says if the current trends continue, the ...

ANC’s decline: Fact or Fable?

This year’s election results was no surprise for the South African people, with the leading party still holding the majority vote with 62%. But, what was not expected was where the decrease in voter percentage came from.

Political analyst and Professor, Steven Friedman, says if the current trends continue, the ...

Democracy discussion = conversation about left-wing opposition

Political analysts Eusebius McKaiser and Adam Habib and political activist Mike van Graan discussed the topic “Does Democracy Work?” at the Franschoek Literary Festival on Sunday, 18 May, chaired by author, Peter Harris.

Harris kicked off by asking van Graan why he had recently written a Thought Leader article in ...

Parliament releases provisional list of designated members headed for Parliament

On Friday, 16 May, Parliament released a list of designated Members for the National Assembly and a list of Members of Provincial Legislatures for the Fifth Parliament.

However, the lists are bound to be amended as there are Members on the list who have declared that they will not be ...

Veteran MP's advice to new MPs

The Fifth Parliament opens on 21 May 2014 and People’s Assembly decided to catch up with out-going MP and former chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Annelize van Wyk.

Asked why she’s not returning to Parliament, van Wyk answered with a short and simple “Because I was too low ...

About Impressions

Not many people know there are fifty committees in Parliament - each assigned to oversee the work of a government department and YOU are welcome to attend. Email us if you would like to sit in on a parliamentary committee meeting. - all you need is an ID or passport to visit Parliament. Contributions about your impressions gladly accepted.

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About The Week in Parliament

That Week In Parliament

Recent happenings in Parliament