South Africa’s fifth democratic Parliament holds its first sitting on Wednesday morning to swear in new Members of Parliament (MPs) and formally elect President Jacob Zuma as head of state.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng will preside over the swearing in of the 400 new members of the National Assembly.
The chamber will elect a new Speaker for Parliament.
Once elected, the Speaker will preside over the election of the deputy speaker.
MPs will then elect the country’s new president, a post certain to go to Zuma for a second term.
He will take the oath of office at the Union Buildings on Saturday, bringing foreign dignitaries back to the capital for the inauguration five months after former president Nelson Mandela laid in state.
Zuma will announce his new Cabinet on Sunday.
Members of Parliament are elected as public representatives.
Some of their duties are carried out in parliament but they’re also required to report back to citizens during constituency periods.
This is supposed to ensure close contact between MPs and the people they represent.
MPs are also expected to serve on various sub-committees to deal with the business of parliament and participate in various voting processes when laws are passed.
