Catch up on all the nominations, votes and elections during the National Assembly's first sitting

What is happening today?

• The first sitting of the National Assembly after the elections is taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (Parliament is still in disrepair after the December 2022 fire).


• First up is the swearing in of all MPs to “obey, respect and uphold the Constitution and all other law”.


• The process then moves to nominating — and ultimately electing — the Speaker. If moves towards a joint administration have stalled, a contest of Speaker candidates may unfold.


• The election of the President traditionally takes place after lunch. Presidential nominations are called from the floor of the House.


• If there is only one nomination, then the election of the President is done. However, a challenger nomination can’t be ruled out, and then a secret ballot will settle the presidential contests.


• The presiding officer for the National Assembly’s inaugural sitting is Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.


• What about the MK party's supposed boycott? Read more about the process here.


• The first sitting of eight provincial legislatures will take place at the same time today. The Western Cape legislature sat on Thursday night. Alan Winde was re-elected premier.