PRETORIA – Parliamentary administrations in South Africa are actively preparing to receive the newly elected members of the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures, following the country's recent elections. Secretary of Parliament Xolile George discussed these preparations during the official handover of the lists of new representatives at the Constitutional Court on Thursday.

According to South African Government News Agency, the lists, which include the names of all elected representatives, were presented by Mosotho Moepya, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of South Africa, to Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who then passed them to George. This event follows the elections last week, described as the most competitive since South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994. George expressed gratitude towards the South African electorate for their active participation and detailed the efforts underway to integrate the new legislators smoothly.

"The onboarding process for the members of the National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces, and the Provincial Legislatures is being meticulously planned," George stated. He reassured that the parliamentary rules and procedures have been reviewed to support the effective functioning of the new members, and arrangements for the first sittings of the legislative bodies are already set.

During the ceremony, Moepya provided insights into the composition of the incoming parliamentary members, noting that it will include 174 females (43.5%) and 226 males (56.5%). He outlined the age distribution of the representatives, emphasizing the diverse range of ages and experiences they bring to their roles. Moepya also highlighted the significance of the handover process as a crucial element of South Africa's democratic procedures, underscoring the Electoral Commission's commitment to conducting a fair and transparent election.