The newly elected parliament of South Africa will convene for the first time on Friday, as political parties attempt to form a coalition after general elections produced no outright winner.
Lawmakers in the 400-seat National Assembly will be tasked with appointing a Speaker and initiating the process of electing the country’s president.
For the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) lost its absolute parliamentary majority in the May 29 vote winning just 40% of the vote—its lowest-ever score and will need the support of other parties to govern.
In an order released on Monday, Chief Justice of South Africa, Raymond Zondo noted that “The first sitting of the National Assembly shall be on Friday, June 14, 2024,”
The ANC has already made clear its intention to work with a broad group of parties to form wants to form a government of national unity. It has generated mixed reactions even from within its ranks.
However, talks continued over the weekend to chart a way forward.
In another twist, former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which finished third in the election, with 14.6% of the vote and 58 seats, said it intends to file an appeal to prevent the new parliament from convening, pending the determination of separate complaint over alleged election irregularities