By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officially handed over the names of MPs and MPLs elected to the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures to the Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
The handover ceremony took place at 2 p.m at the Constitutional Court.
This process kicks off preparations for the first sitting of the National Assembly which must occur no more than 14 days after the election results are declared.
The list was handed over by the IEC following the announcement of the final election results on Sunday.
As part of the preparations for the first parliamentary sitting, the list will be handed over by Zondo to the Secretary of Parliament, Xolile George.
According to the Constitution, the first sitting must take place at a time and date determined by the Chief Justice, but not more than 14 days after the election results have been declared.
IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya described the occasion as a significant milestone for the commission.
“This momentous occasion signifies the culmination of a robust and transparent electoral process, a process that echoes the unified voice of our nation.
Chief Justice, our role as the Electoral Commission, as contemplated in the Constitution, is to ensure that South African voters exercise their rights to choose their leaders.
We have carried out these responsibilities without fear, favor, or prejudice. The lists that we present to you reflect the choices of South Africans” said Moepya.
He added, “Chief Justice, the list that the Electoral Commission is presenting to you comprises 174 women and 226 men.
This means that 43.5% of the elected representatives are women, and 56.5% are men.
They range from 20 to 79 in age. These representatives reflect the choices, hopes, and aspirations of millions of citizens who exercised their democratic rights”.
Zondo emphasized that the judiciary will continue to play its role in dealing with any grievances related to the elections.
“The judiciary will play its role to make sure that our constitutional democracy runs as smoothly and seamlessly as it should,” said Zondo.
“I know that not everybody agrees on certain issues relating to the elections.
The judiciary will continue to play its role if there are people who are aggrieved and approach the courts.
But as things stand at the moment, the events that need to take place in order for our constitutional democracy to continue will proceed, and the judiciary will play its role.”
Last week, more than 25 political parties, Umkhonto Wesizwe Political Party (MK Party), expressed dissatisfaction with the results, alleging that the elections were rigged.
This group includes the African Congress for Transformation (ACT), the United Democratic Movement (UDM), the Congress of the People (COPE), and the South African Reward Association (SARA).
Meanwhile the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has written to the National Assembly (NA) secretary to remove Jabulani Khumalo from the party’s candidates list.
Party’s spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said that the party would not take expelled members to Parliament.
“Remember this is an old list, but we have written to the Parliament secretary to remove him officially from our list. We can’t have expelled members representing our party in Parliament,” Ndhlela said.
He was clarifying the issue of Khumalo’s name appearing in the list of candidates who are going to be sworn in to Parliament on Thursday.
Khumalo topped the list of Members of Parliament, followed by Jacob Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla at number 16, Ndhlela at number 22 and Des van Rooyen, among others.