Parliament to resume its work
Parliament is set to resume its work following talks between its presiding officers and other parliamentary leaders.
Both houses of Parliament suspended all activities last month in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
On Thursday the presiding officers, led by National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Amos Masondo, held a virtual press conference.
“We have consequently taken a decision that the business of Parliament must resume with immediate effect,” Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli said.
“The constitution requires that Parliament scrutinise and oversee the executive actions, especially during this period.”
Govt preparing for gradual lift of lockdown
She was speaking at a briefing of the national command council on Covid-19 in Pretoria on Tuesday, where several amendments to the lockdown regulations were also announced. Dlamini-Zuma said South Africans should expect weekly announcements as the government starts phasing in some industries that are prohibited from operating.
In keeping to the national lockdown regulations, Tsenoli said Parliament would conduct its business online as far as possible.
“The role of Parliament, during this period of national lockdown and the extended period of social distancing which is expected to carry on for months, remains indispensable.
“This calls for a radical alteration and adjustments to the normal ways of functioning.”
He added: “For Parliament it has never been a more important time to work in an extraordinary manner and intensify our technological abilities and capabilities for our transition into an e-parliament.”
Parliament said its focus would now be on the Covid-19 pandemic.