26th South African Parliament

26th South African Parliament
25th 27th
Overview
JurisdictionSouth Africa
Meeting placeCape Town
Term21 May 2014 (2014-05-21) – 21 May 2019 (2019-05-21)
National Assembly of South Africa
Composition of the National Assembly
Members400
Speaker of the National Assembly of South AfricaBaleka Mbete
Leader of the OppositionMmusi Maimane
Presiding OfficersMmatlala Boroto, Cedric Frolick, Thoko Didiza
National Council of Provinces
Members90
ChairpersonThandi Modise
Deputy ChairpersonRaseriti Tau
Leader of the OppositionCathlene Labuschagne

The 26th South African Parliament was the fifth Parliament of South Africa to convene since the introduction of non-racial government in South Africa in 1994. It was elected in the general election of 7 May 2014 and consists of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. The National Assembly contains 400 members, while the National Council of Provinces contains 90 members. Members of Parliament were sworn in on 21 May 2014.[1] The 26th parliament first convened on 21 May 2014 to elect Jacob Zuma as the fifth democratically elected President of South Africa.[2] It was formally opened by president Zuma's State of the Nation Address in a joint sitting on 17 June 2014.[3]

13 Different political parties are represented in this parliament.[4][5] The majority party in the 25th parliament, the African National Congress (ANC) retained its majority, although it was reduced to 249 (62%) seats, down from 264 seats out of 400 (66%), while the Democratic Alliance (DA) increased its lead of the opposition, taking 89 (22.23%) seats, up from 67 seats (16.75%) in the National Assembly of the 25th parliament. The Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete and Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Thandi Modise, both of the ANC, were elected on 21 May 2014 by members of parliament.[6][7] The presiding officers of parliament, Mmatlala Boroto, Cedric Frolick and Thoko Didiza were elected on 18 June 2014.[8]

Mmusi Maimane was elected parliamentary Leader of the Opposition in a DA election in May 2014.[9]

  1. ^ Ferreira, Emsia (21 May 2014). "Chief justice swears in fifth Parliament's MPs". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Jacob Zuma elected president". iAfrica. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Parliament readies for State of the Nation address". News24. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Election results". IEC. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  5. ^ "From the Fourth to the Fifth Democratic Parliament". Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Baleka Mbete appointed Speaker of Parliament". SouthAfrica.info. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Thandi Modise elected NCOP chair". 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  8. ^ "South Africa: NA Elects New House Chairs". 19 June 2014. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Mmusi Maimane's parliamentary leader acceptance speech". Mail & Guardian. 29 May 2014. Archived from the original on 4 August 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.