27th South African Parliament

New Members of Parliament from fourteen political parties were sworn in by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng on 22 May 2019

Parliament sits in Cape Town, even though the seat of government is in Pretoria. Chapter 4 of the Constitution of South Africa defines the structure of Parliament, the legislative branch of the national government. Parliament consists of two houses, the National Assembly (the lower house), which is directly elected by voters, and the National Council of Provinces (the upper house), which is elected by each respective provincial legislature.[6]

The National Assembly reconvened on 22 May 2019, while the National Council of Provinces reconvened on the following day, 23 May 2019. According to the Constitution, both Houses of Parliament must be established within fourteen days after the Independent Electoral Commission declared the official election results.[7][8]

Chief Justice Mogoeng presided over the swearing-in of MPs and the election of the new Speaker of the National Assembly. Former NCOP Chairperson Thandi Modise defeated the Democratic Alliance's candidate Richard Majola by a margin of 250 votes to only 83 votes for Majola. Modise presided over the Deputy Speaker’s election. Incumbent Deputy Speaker Solomon Lechesa Tsenoli of the ANC was re-elected unopposed.[9]

The Chief Justice then presided over the election of the President. Incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa of the ANC was re-elected unopposed. After the election, Ramaphosa immediately ceased to be a Member of Parliament. Ramaphosa was inaugurated within five days after being elected since the official inauguration took place on 25 May 2019. The inauguration was the first to be held at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, and not at the Union Buildings. The Union Buildings had been the official venue of the presidential inauguration since the country's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, took the oath of office in 1994.[10][11][12]

The first sitting of the National Council of Provinces was held on 23 May 2019. Permanent delegates were sworn in and a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, House Chairpersons and Chief Whip were elected.[13][14]

Former Mayor of Johannesburg Amos Masondo was elected Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, while former Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas was elected Deputy Chairperson. ANC Chief Whip Seiso Mohai was re-elected.[15]

The African National Congress announced its parliamentary leadership on 20 May 2019. The Democratic Alliance announced the following day that the Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance, Mmusi Maimane, and Opposition Chief Whip in the National Assembly, John Steenhuisen, would both retain their respective posts. Both were elected to full five-year terms on 30 May 2019 as the DA held parliamentary caucus leadership elections.[16] Mmusi Maimane resigned from Parliament on 24 October 2019. John Steenhuisen was appointed as his successor with Natasha Mazzone as the new Chief Whip.[17][18]

On 22 May 2019, embattled outgoing Minister of Environmental Affairs Nomvula Mokonyane announced her withdrawal from the ANC parliamentary list, citing family reasons. Mokonyane was initially announced by the ANC as the incoming Chairperson of Committees.[19][20] On 27 June 2019, current parliamentary Chairperson of Committees, Cedric Frolick, was re-elected to his position, despite the official opposition Democratic Alliance nominating one of its MPs, Annelie Lotriet, for the post. Other elected presiding officers include Grace Boroto and Madala Ntombela.[21][22][23]

In July 2019, the parliamentary committees elected controversial former Zuma-era cabinet ministers as committee chairpersons. The Democratic Alliance opposed each of the chairpersons in the committee elections. The newly elected committee chairpersons include Faith Muthambi, Sfiso Buthelezi, Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Bongani Bongo. Inkatha Freedom Party MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa was elected Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).[24][25][26]