MPs vote to dissolve National Assembly ahead of May 8 polls
The move allows President Cyril Ramaphosa to officially proclaim the election date in the government gazette.
The National Assembly. FILE PHOTO: Chantall Presence / ANA
In a unanimous vote, the National Assembly adopted a motion by Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu to dissolve the assembly in terms of section 50 (1) of the Constitution on Thursday. The dissolution of the assembly happens before the expiry of its term on May 20, 2019.
The national assembly issued a statement citing reasons behind the announcement.
“The resolution is informed by the announcement made by President Ramaphosa on February 7, that the national and provincial government elections will take place on May 8. Due to the fact that the Fifth Parliament was convened on May 21, 2014, its five-year term officially ends on May 20 2019. ”
The election date falls within the active five-year term of the Fifth Parliament, which resulted in the dissolution of the National Assembly as elections could not be held while the parliamentary term was in session.
— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) February 21, 2019
“The necessity for the dissolution is also informed by the need to proclaim the elections date, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. The proclamation of the elections is the legal process wherein the elections date is published in the Government Gazette, thereby closing the voters’ roll and starting the official elections timetable.”
This, therefore, means that South Africans have until close of business on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 to register to vote.
“We, therefore, urge all unregistered voters to go to their nearest IEC offices to register to vote ANC in the upcoming national and provincial government elections.”
The adoption to dissolve parliament is to prevent bills and other parliamentary business from lapsing when the house is dissolved.
National elections are triggered by either the end of term or the desolving of the #NationalAssembly . This technical dessolution does not take away the competency of the assembly to discharge its duties until elections are held . We thank all parties for supporting the move
— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) February 21, 2019
The desolving of #NationalAssembly of @ParliamentofRSA is because the date of the #Nationalelections2019 as pronounced by President @CyrilRamaphosa , the 8th May 2019 , falls within the 5th Term of Parliament ( 21 May 2014 – 21 May 2019 ) .
— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) February 21, 2019
(Compiled by Gopolang Chawane)
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