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Political Governance
How does Parliament function in South Africa?

Parliament is the main legislature in South Africa. It is made up of two houses: the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Broadly speaking, parliament has the following primary functions:
• It makes the laws that govern the country;
• It holds the executive accountable for the implementation of laws and policies; and
• It provides a debating forum around matters of public and political interest.

Parliament is elected for a five year term. Some of the most important work of Parliament is conducted through parliamentary committees.

The National Assembly consists of 400 Members of Parliament. Political parties are represented in proportion to the number of votes they received in the most recent election. The National Assembly elects the President of the country, who then forms a Cabinet. Cabinet ministers are elected MPs who are the political heads of the various government departments at national level. No other government officials are elected. The National Assembly has legislative authority over national matters and shares legislative power over certain matters with the NCOP.

The National Council of Provinces is made up of 90 members, 10 from each of South Africa’s nine provinces. Each province’s delegation is generally proportionally representative of the political parties that contested the most recent election in that province.

The Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the NCOP are the most senior office-bearers of Parliament. They are elected by their houses to preside over meetings and to ensure that members comply with parliamentary rules and procedures, as well as with the Constitution. They also represent and speak on behalf of Parliament and co-ordinate its management. Although both the Speaker of the NA and the Chairperson of the NCOP are members of political parties, they are expected to be impartial and to ensure free speech in Parliament. They arrange proceedings, note objections during debates, keep order and discipline members if necessary.

[Text adapted from PIMS’ Parliamentary Pocketbook by Stephen Heyns]