Hon members, before I put the motion, I wish to use this opportunity to share with the House a letter from the hon the President of the Republic of South Africa in the same matter. Dissolution of the National Assembly, I received this letter and it is dated 20 February because we received it today. On 7 February 2019, during the state of the nation address, I announced that the general elections will be held on 8 May 2019. The Constitution requires that the government at all levels to support the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, in the discharge of its mandate. As part of its mandate the IEC is required by law to set up and publish an electoral timetable. This timetable is dependent on the date of proclamation of the election's date.
Accordingly, we need to ensure that the dissolution of all the legislatures and the consequent proclamation of
the election date are properly co-ordinated. The legislatures should adopt the resolutions to dissolve before 26 February 2019. The premiers must all then ensure that the election proclamations are published by Tuesday, 26 February 2019.
Kindly note that according to section 49(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, the National Assembly remains competent to function from the time it is dissolved, until the day before the first day of polling for the next Assembly. I have sent a similar letter to the premiers of all provinces. Your urgent attention to the matter will be highly appreciated. Yours Sincerely, Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa.
Hon members, having read this letter and having heard the motion from the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, I now put the motion. Are there any objections?
HON MEMBERS: No.
There are no objections, so the motion has been agreed to. Are you happy? [Applause.] However, hon members we need actually to make sure that we know that we have the supporting vote of a majority of the members of the Assembly. Therefore, without there being a division, members are required to indicate their support or opposition to the motion for the record. Therefore, we will ring the bells. Do we really need to ring them for five minutes?
HON MEMBERS: Yes.
For five minutes?
HON MEMBERS: Yes.
Okay, hon members, the bells will be rung as you wish for five minutes.
Question put: That the motion as moved by the Chief Whip of the Majority Party on the dissolution of the National Assembly in terms of section 50(1) of the Constitution as it appears on the Order Paper be approved.
Hon Speaker, hon Skwatsha here is saying that he did not need the oppositions' votes to pass this motion. Can we restart the process again from scratch? [Laughter.]
Hon Skwatsha is just playing with you. Hon members, whereas the House according to the Constitution needs at least 201 votes, we did achieve 249 votes in favour of the motion. [Applause.] Therefore, the members have voted in support of the motion as require by section 50(1)(a) of the Constitution. The motion is accordingly agreed to and I thank you very much, hon members.
AYES - 249: [Take in form minutes]
The required support having been obtained in terms of section 50(1)(a) of the Constitution, motion accordingly adopted.
Madam Speaker, may I be the first to thank you for your service. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
I thought you would thank me for my patience with you. Hon members, the Secretary will read the First Order of the day.