Representation and Participation of Women in Parliament

women

The month of August marks Women's month in South Africa. We must reflect on the progress that South Africa has made in terms of women’s representation and participation in Parliament.

Women’s Representation in Parliament within the current electoral system

South Africa has a five-year electoral cycle. Effective oversight, law-making, public ...

The Week Ahead: NCOP Question Time with the President

week-ahead-7-june

The National Assembly is officially on recess from today until 17 August.

Meanwhile, the NCOP’s second term will run until 21 June.

The NCOP chamber has arranged a varied agenda for delegates. Highlights include Oral Questions and Replies with the President, legislative business, policy debates and a Youth Day debate. ...

The Week Ahead: Meetings continue despite recess

Week-ahead

On one level, this looks like a pretty normal week. There is no main chamber business and there is a decent amount of action in the committee corridor.

However, Parliament is officially in recess from today until 4 May 2021.

While most MPs will only be focused on constituency work ...

The Week Ahead: End of Term & Independent Panel Report on Public Protector

end of term and independt panel on PP

The constituency period beckons, with MPs due to sign off at the end of the week and resume on 4 May 2021.

Not everyone will be on a break though. A few committees, with urgent business, have arranged meetings during this period.

There is no opportunity to go through the ...

The Week Ahead: Busy Week as the NA third term ends

week ahead

The constituency period beckons for NA MPs. They are due to depart at the end of the week and return to Parliament on 6 October.

Their NCOP counterparts started the term one week later and will remain in session until 30 September.

Lasting three weeks, this has been one of ...

The Week Ahead: End of the First Term

A lot was packed into the first term of the Sixth Parliament 22July2019

New Members were registered, sworn-in and received training. In addition, the legislature elected new leadership, had a second State of the Nation Address, set up structures, and assigned Members to Committees.

A big chunk of the time was ...

Mr Vincent Smith - ANC

VSmith

Political background: I became involved in politics, and the ANC, by being involved in student politics. I became an MP through my leadership position in the ANC as a Deputy Chairperson of the ANC Johannesburg region.

What does your job as an MP entail? My job as an MP really ...

Infographic: MPs and Constituency Offices - How they can help you

Many South Africans do not know who their MPs are, or that there could be an MP or MPL assigned to their area to act as their representative. People's Assembly has put together an infographic that explains what your representative can do for you and how you can connect with ...

Ms Ntombovuyo Mente (EFF)

mente

What is your political background? How did you come to join your political party and become an MP?

I am from Cofimvaba where I read for my basic education. During my high school there had been an incident at my school involving a teacher and a student. We had been ...

Inkosi Russel Cebekhulu (IFP)

Cebe

What is your political background and what attracted you to your political party?

I joined the IFP in 1978 when I was still in school. I was mainly influenced by my father. who at the time was working with the IFP. He instilled the IFP philosophy and what the party ...