By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s announcement that the opening of Parliament will be on Friday has set the clock ticking for political parties to agree on the next speaker of Parliament.
By law, the political parties don’t have to finish their GNU talks before Friday, but the pressure is on.
The DA said on Monday it thought it had more time.
The ANC has been talking to the DA after the EFF said it will not be part of a coalition government that includes the DA.
While many of the ANC national executive committee members prefer a GNU that includes the DA, another faction is still hoping for a coalition of predominantly black parties.
The extreme leftists in the ANC are also hoping for a coalition that will include both the EFF and the MK party – and leave out the DA. Whatever the ANC agrees with other parties has to be signed off by the NEC.
The chief justice said the Constitution rules that Parliament must be organised within 14 days of the election results. He chose Friday but could have made it later.
After Chief Justice Zondo swears in new MPs – MK will boycott for now – he will appoint the new speaker, and then swear in the president-elect. The president-elect must be inaugurated within five days.
Meanwhile, the DA federal council met on Monday to get feedback from its GNU negotiating team which has been meeting with the ANC.
DA spokesperson Solly Malatsi said the DA leadership will reconvene its federal council on Tuesday.
“Up until the announcement by the chief justice, the expectation was that there is still more time leading even into the weekend to be able to get to a decision.
“But we now have to operate with this new deadline.”
Pictured above: The president and ministers are sworn in shortly after the official opening of Parliament.
Source: X
