Parliament of South Africa

12/30/21, 5:32 PM Parliament of South Africa - Wikipedia
Coordinates: 33.9258°S 18.4197°E
Parliament of South Africa

The Parliament of the Republic of South
Africa is South Africa's legislature; under the Parliament of the
present Constitution of South Africa, the bicameral Republic of South Africa

Parliament comprises a National Assembly and a List
National Council of Provinces.[2][3] The current 10 other official names:
twenty-seventh Parliament was first convened on 22 Parlement van Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans)
May 2019.
iPalamende yeSewula Afrika (Southern Ndebele)
From 1910 to 1994, members of Parliament were iPalamente yoMzantsi Afrika (Xhosa)
elected chiefly by the South African white minority.
The first elections with universal suffrage were held iPhalamende yaseNingizimu Afrika (Zulu)
in 1994. iPhalamende yeNingizimu Afrika (Swazi)
Palamente ya Afrika-Borwa (Northern Sotho)
Palamente ya Afrika Borwa (Sotho)
Contents
Palamente ya Aforika Borwa (Tswana)
History
Palamende ra Afrika Dzonga (Tsonga)
Before 1910
1910–1961 Phaḽamennde ya Afurika Tshipembe (Venda)
1961–1984 27th Parliament
1984–1994
Since 1994
Major political parties in parliament
Seat of Parliament
List of Parliaments
Parliaments of the Union
Parliaments of the Republic
Democratic Parliaments
See also
References Type
External links Type Bicameral

Houses National Assembly
National Council of
History Provinces
Leadership
Before 1910 Speaker of the Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula,
National Assembly ANC
since 19 August 2021
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_South_Africa 1/9
The predecessor of the Parliament of South Africa, Chairperson of the Amos Masondo, ANC
before the 1910 Union of South Africa, was the National Council of since 23 May 2019
bicameral Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope. This Provinces
was composed of the House of Assembly (the lower Structure
house) and the Legislative Council (the upper house).
It dated back to the beginnings of Cape independence Seats 490
in 1853 and was elected according to the multi-racial 90 National Council
Cape Qualified Franchise system, whereby suffrage 400 National Assembly

qualifications were applied equally to all males,
regardless of race.
The buildings of the Cape Parliament went on to

house the Parliament of South Africa, after
union.[4][5]
1910–1961 National Council of

Provinces political ANC (29 + 25)
When the Union of South Africa was established in groups DA (13 + 7)
1910,[6] the Parliament was bicameral and consisted
EFF (9 + 2)
of the King or the Queen, the Senate, and the House
of Assembly (known in Afrikaans as the Volksraad). Others (3 + 2)
The King (from 1952, the Queen of South Africa)

was represented by the Governor-General.
The Senate consisted of senators nominated by
the four provinces, and by the Governor-General,
initially for a period of ten years. The number of
senators was changed from time to time. The
Senate was chaired by a President of the Senate
chosen by the senators from among themselves.
The House of Assembly consisted of members National Assembly Government (230)
who were directly elected by the voters. Each MP political groups
represented an electoral district (constituency), ANC (230)
and most of them were elected on the basis of
their political party. The number of constituencies Official Opposition (84)
and parliamentary seats was increased from time
to time, in line with increases in the population. DA (84)
The House was chaired by a Speaker chosen by
the MPs from among themselves.
Other parties (86)
Only white men could be senators or MPs.
The franchise (right to vote) was originally EFF (44)
granted to white men in all four provinces, to
black men in the Cape Province and Natal, and to IFP (14)
Coloured men in the Cape Province – in all FF+ (10)
cases, the minimum age was 21 years.
ACDP (4)
The composition of Parliament was changed by UDM (2)

constitutional amendments from time to time: ATM (2)
Good (2)[1]
NFP (2)
From 1930, white women had the vote, and the AIC (2)
right to serve as senators and MPs, on the same
COPE (2)
basis as white men.
In 1934, Parliament was declared "the sovereign PAC (1)
legislative power in and over the Union". [7] Al Jama-ah (1)
From 1937, black voters were separated from the Meeting place
other races – in the Senate they were
represented by four elected senators (two for the
Cape, one for Natal, one for the Orange Free
State and Transvaal), and in the House of
Assembly by three "native representative" MPs
elected in separate black constituencies.[8]
From 1950, white voters in South West Africa,
which was under South African administration at
that time, were represented by four senators and
six MPs.
From 1957, Coloured voters were separated from
the whites – in the Senate, they were represented Houses of Parliament, Cape Town
by separate senators, and in the House of Western Cape, South Africa

Assembly by MPs elected in separate Coloured Website
constituencies.[9] To pass this amendment in the
face of strong opposition (and two Supreme www.parliament.gov.za (http://www.parliament.go
Court rulings), prime minister Johannes Strijdom v.za/)
had to enlarge the Senate and appoint enough
pro-government senators to get the two-thirds majority he needed to force through the
constitutional change.[10]
Representation of black voters was ended in 1960.
Voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1960.
In a referendum held in 1960, a small majority of the white voters approved the conversion of the
country from a Realm or Dominion of the British Commonwealth to a republic.
1961–1984
The Republic of South Africa was established in 1961. The only change made to the composition of the
Parliament was the substitution of the State President for the Queen.[12] A few significant changes
were made later:
Coloured representation was ended in 1968, leaving both the Senate and the House of Assembly
representing white voters only.
South West Africa ceased to be represented in Parliament from 1977.[13]
The Senate was abolished in 1981, changing Parliament to a unicameral legislature.
1984–1994
A new Constitution, introduced in 1984, re-enfranchised the Coloured

population (women as well as men) and enfranchised the Indian
population. It retained the existing House of Assembly for whites and
established a House of Representatives to represent the Coloureds,
and a House of Delegates for the Indians, making Parliament a
tricameral legislature. Blacks continued to be excluded.
Each house consisted of members elected to represent

constituencies, plus a few additional members elected by the MPs,
and some nominated by the State President.
Each house legislated on "own affairs" exclusive to its own race
group, and they legislated jointly on "general affairs" affecting all
races.[14] In practice, the House of Assembly, which had more MPs
Coat of arms of the Parliament
than the other two houses combined, continued to dominate the
of South Africa 1964–2007[11]
legislature.
Each house was chaired by a chairman elected by its members
from among themselves. They were coordinated by a Speaker of Parliament, elected by the
members of all three houses in a joint sitting.
The existing House of Assembly, elected in 1981, was deemed to have been re-elected in 1984,
to coordinate its term of office with those of the two new houses. However, this was later
overturned by the Supreme Court, and a separate election had to be held for the House of
Assembly in 1987. The House elected in 1987 was then dissolved with the other houses in 1989.
The black majority were still disfranchised, and the new system lacked legitimacy even among the
Coloureds and Asians, many of whom boycotted elections. In a referendum held in 1992, 68.73% of
(only white) voters approved the reform process that effectively ended Apartheid. In late 1993, one of
the last pieces of legislation passed by the tricameral Parliament was the Interim Constitution, which
took effect on 27 April 1994, the same day as the first non-racial elections.
Since 1994
A new interim constitution, introduced in 1994 after four years of negotiation, finally introduced all-
race democracy and enfranchised men and women of all races on equal terms, the minimum age
remaining 18 years. Parliament was reconstituted to consist of a Senate and a National Assembly.
The Senate consisted of 90 senators, ten nominated by each of the nine provinces. It was chaired
by a President of the Senate elected by the senators from among themselves.
The National Assembly consists of 400 members, elected by voters on a proportional
representation/party list system. There are no electoral districts, and each party is allocated a
number of seats proportionate to the percentage of the votes it receives across the country. It is
chaired by a Speaker elected by the MPs from among themselves.
In 1997, the current Constitution of South Africa came into force, in which the Senate was
replaced by a 90-member National Council of Provinces (NCOP), made up of a 10-member
delegation from each province (six delegates elected by the provincial legislature, the Premier and
three other members of the provincial legislature). The NCOP is chaired by a Chairperson elected
by the members from among themselves.
The parliamentary system uses proportional representation, with voters voting for political parties
rather than for candidates. Proportional representation allows for smaller parties to have a chance of
acquiring seats in parliament, although these parties often combine in order to have a stronger voice
within the political system, especially against the ANC. The Independent Electoral Commission is
charged with keeping elections fair, regular, and equal. Parties submit closed lists of candidates to the
IEC, and the IEC fills the seats allotted to individual parties using the candidate lists after election
results come in. The electoral system has seen little corruption since 1994.
Higher Education Minister Naledi Pandor has noted that during her term (starting 1994) a decline in
political respectability had occurred in parliament, due to its members not engaging with one another
in a courteous manner. She remarked that she felt undignified to be an observer of the crude
behaviour, which also inhibited the conduct of successful politics.[15]
Major political parties in parliament

African National Congress: The ANC was founded in 1912, but were banned by State President
Charles Robberts Swart in 1960, remaining so until the ban was lifted thirty years later by President F.
W. De Klerk. The ANC became the leading political party in South Africa after the first multi-racial
election in 1994. The party's main platform rests on working towards racial equality and eradicating
the socio-economic classes which are often based on race. The ANC has been considered a party for
native South Africans, especially before 2009 when party leader Jacob Zuma faced multiple
accusations regarding corruption, particularly using public funds for his own purposes.[16] The
economic difficulties in South Africa, as well as police brutality have both been blamed on the ANC.
Currently, the ANC holds 230 seats in parliament. Support for the ANC went down between the 2014
and the 2019 general elections, with violent protests erupting all over the country in response to the
allegations of corruption within the ANC and the non-delivery of municipal services.
Democratic Alliance: The DA was formed when the New National Party, the successor to the
apartheid-era National Party, merged with the Democratic Party and the Federal Alliance in 2000 to
form an alliance. The DA is an opposition party and has been traditionally supported by South Africa's
minority communities (White, Coloured and Indian). In more recent years, the party has attempted to
win votes from Black South Africans and as a result, Black support for the DA has risen over the past
several years, going from 1% to 6%.[17] The DA is a liberal party that favours free-market policies. The
DA was allotted 89 seats in parliament after the 2014 general election, but the party's seat total
decreased to 84 seats following the 2019 general election.
Economic Freedom Fighters: The EFF emerged eight months before the 2014 general election and
won 25 seats in parliament. After the 2019 general elections, the EFF increased their seats in
parliament to 44, the only party of the top three parties that achieved an increase of members in
parliament. The EFF is a far-left revolutionary socialist political party, advocating for land
expropriation and for an end to corruption within parliament. The EFF has been widely accused of
inflammatory hate speech against White and Indian South Africans.
Inkatha Freedom Party: The IFP, which was formed in 1990 was the successor to the former
government in the now-defunct Kwazulu Bantustan, traditionally draws its support from the Zulu
people. It has however made inroads into the minority electorate of Whites and Indians. The IFP was
the third-largest party until it was unseated by the EFF and is one of the few parties to have
consecutive representation in parliament since democracy in 1994. The IFP apart from the ANC was
part of the National Government for 10 years. The IFP champions the rights of traditional leaders and
advocates for policies which favour free markets. The party is opposed to socialism and communist
policies.
Because the ANC has such a large majority in parliament, smaller parties are constantly forming
alliances and coalitions in order to act as a stronger opposition to the ANC-run legislative and
executive branches.
Seat of Parliament
Parliament sits in Cape Town, even though the seat of government
is in Pretoria. This dates back to the foundation of the Union,
when there was disagreement among the four provinces as to
which city would be the national capital. As a compromise, Cape
Town was designated the legislative capital, Bloemfontein the
judicial capital, and Pretoria the administrative capital. The
African National Congress (ANC) government has proposed
moving Parliament to Pretoria, arguing that the present
The chamber of the National arrangement is cumbersome as ministers, civil servants and
Assembly diplomats must move back and forth when Parliament is in
session.
However, many Capetonians have spoken out against such a move, accusing the ANC of trying to
centralise power. Under the Constitution, there is provision for Parliament to sit elsewhere than Cape
Town on grounds of public interest, security or convenience and Parliament is permitted to provide in
its rules and orders for sittings outside Cape Town. Rule 24 of the National Assembly Rules
accordingly allows the Speaker to direct that the House will sit at 'a place other than the Houses of
Parliament in Cape Town' after consulting the Leader of the House and the Chief Whip of each party
represented in the House. Rule 23 of the rules of the National Council of Provinces allows the council
to pass a resolution providing for it to sit elsewhere.
In 2018, the Government of South Africa formed a project steering committee to conduct a feasibility
study into moving parliament to Pretoria and to identify potential sites for a new parliament
building.[18] In April 2019, the Minister of Public Works announced that a list of potential sites had
been drawn up.[19] In 2020, it was suggested that moving parliament to Pretoria would save R650
million per year.[20]
List of Parliaments
Parliaments of the Union

1st South African Parliament (1910–1915) – majority party : South African Party
2nd South African Parliament (1915–1920) – majority party : South African Party
3rd South African Parliament (1920–1921) – majority party : South African Party
4th South African Parliament (1921–1924) – majority party : South African Party
5th South African Parliament (1924–1929) – majority party : National Party
7th South African Parliament (1933–1938) – majority party : United Party

Parliaments of the Republic

21st South African Parliament (1989–1994) – majority party : National Party
Democratic Parliaments
22nd South African Parliament (1994–1999) – majority party : African National Congress
23rd South African Parliament (1999–2004) – majority party : African National Congress
24th South African Parliament (2004–2009) – majority party : African National Congress
25th South African Parliament (2009–2014) – majority party : African National Congress
26th South African Parliament (2014–2019) - majority party : African National Congress
27th South African Parliament (2019–present) - majority party: African National Congress
See also
List of Acts of the Parliament of South Africa
Politics of South Africa
List of legislatures by country
Committees of the Parliament of South Africa
References
1. Fisher, Shamiela. "Good will remain opposition party, despite De Lille appointment as minister" (ht
tps://ewn.co.za/2019/05/30/good-will-remain-opposition-party-despite-de-lille-s-appointment-as-mi
nister). ewn.co.za. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
2. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, s. 42 (http://www.gov.za/documents/constitutio
n/1996/constitution.pdf) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142244/http://www.gov.z
a/documents/constitution/1996/constitution.pdf) 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
3. Odeyemi, Temitayo Isaac; Abioro, Tunde (4 August 2018), "Digital Technologies, Online
Engagement and Parliament-Citizen Relations in Nigeria and South Africa", Advances in African
Economic, Social and Political Development, Springer International Publishing, pp. 217–232,
doi:10.1007/978-3-319-93509-6_12 (https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-319-93509-6_12),
ISBN 9783319935089
4. The old Cape House, being pages from the history of a legislative assembly (https://archive.org/d
etails/oldcapehousebein00kilpiala), Ralph Kilpin, T.M Miller, Cape Town, 1918
5. The Houses of Parliament, Cape Town (http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/11/03/die-parlements

gebou/), Andrew Cusack, 3 November 2009
6. South Africa Act 1909
7. Status of the Union Act 1934
8. Representation of Natives Act 1936
9. Separate Representation of Voters Act 1956
10. Senate Act 1955
11. REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA (http://www.hubert-herald.nl/RSA.htm) Hubert de Vries.
12. Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 1961
13. SOUTH AFRICA Date of Elections: 30 November 1977 (http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/S
OUTH_AFRICA_1977_E.PDF), Inter-Parliamentary-Union
14. Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 1983
15. du Plessis, Carien (10 December 2018). "Naledi Pandor: 'Work has to go on, the nation has to
continue to exist' " (https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/politics/naledi-pandor-‘work-has-to-go-on-th
e-nation-has-to-continue-to-exist’/ar-BBQMl3g?ocid=spartanntp). Daily Maverick. Retrieved
11 December 2018.
16. "Can we blame you now, President Zuma? | Corruption Watch" (http://www.corruptionwatch.org.z
a/can-we-blame-you-now-president-zuma/). Corruption Watch. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 6 May
2016.
17. Sapa, TimesLIVE. "South Africa election results 2014" (http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2014/0
5/09/south-africa-election-results-2014). Times LIVE. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
18. Staff Writer. "Government identifies possible sites to move parliament from Cape Town to
Pretoria" (https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/313184/government-identifies-possible-sit
es-to-move-parliament-from-cape-town-to-pretoria/). Retrieved 30 May 2021.
19. Diemen, Ethan van. "Sites identified for potential Parliament move to Tshwane" (https://www.news
24.com/news24/southafrica/news/sites-identified-for-potential-parliament-move-to-tshwane-20190
426). News24. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
20. "Moving Parliament to Pretoria may save the government R650m a year: professor" (https://www.i
ol.co.za/news/moving-parliament-to-pretoria-may-save-the-government-r650m-a-year-professor-4
8011109). www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
South Africa Act 1909

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1961
Kahn, E. (1961). The New Constitution.
Kruger, D.W. (1969). The Making of a Nation.
May, H.J. (1949). The South African Constitution.
External links
Media related to Parliament of South Africa at Wikimedia Commons
Official website (http://www.parliament.gov.za)

Site by Houses of Parliament, Parliament Street, Cape Town (https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/920
180234), at SAHRA
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12/30/21, 5:32 PM Parliament of South Africa - Wikipedia

Coordinates: 33.9258°S 18.4197°E

present Constitution of South Africa, the bicameral Republic of South Africa

External links Type Bicameral

since 19 August 2021

in 1853 and was elected according to the multi-racial 90 National Council

Cape Qualified Franchise system, whereby suffrage 400 National Assembly

The buildings of the Cape Parliament went on to

1910–1961 National Council of

The King (from 1952, the Queen of South Africa)

The composition of Parliament was changed by UDM (2)

by separate senators, and in the House of Western Cape, South Africa

A new Constitution, introduced in 1984, re-enfranchised the Coloured

Each house consisted of members elected to represent

Major political parties in parliament

Parliaments of the Union

11th South African Parliament (1953–1958) – majority party : National Party

Parliaments of the Republic

5. The Houses of Parliament, Cape Town (http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/11/03/die-parlements

South Africa Act 1909

Official website (http://www.parliament.gov.za)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Parliament_of_South_Africa&oldid=1059776878"

This page was last edited on 11 December 2021, at 15:34 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License;

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