First sitting of Sixth Democratic Parliament set for 22 May

Chief Justice Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng will preside over the sitting, when members of the National Assembly (NA) will be sworn in.

This is also the sitting that will see Members of Parliament (Mps) elected the next President of South Africa. 

In a statement, Parliament says in terms of the constitution, both the NA and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) must be established within 14 days after the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) declares the results of the May 8th national election.

"The Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa has the powers, under the Constitution, to determine the dates and times of these first sittings and presides over key aspects of them.

"Following consultations between officials of the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) and Parliament, the first sitting of the National Assembly is provisionally set for 22 May."

The Chief Justice is expected to officially declare the date of the first sitting in due course.

The National Assembly may be constituted of no fewer than 350 and no more than 400 members.