CTICC a hive of activity ahead of first sitting of Parliament

CAPE TOWN - The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is already a hive of activity in preparation for the first sitting of the National Assembly, where MPs will be sworn in and the president elected.

MPs from various parties and Parliament officials have already started arriving at the CTICC, where it will all unfold.

It's still a couple of hours before proceedings start at 10am, but the place is already filling up, with a big security presence.

In terms of the proceedings, according to the agenda released by Parliament, the bells will be rung at 9:35am and that’s when members of the National Assembly will meet in the chamber. 

This will be followed by the national anthem by the parliamentary choir before a moment of prayer or meditation.

Members of the National Assembly will then take the oath or make the solemn affirmation.

It's only at that point where the presiding officer or chief justice will declare the assembly convened in terms of Section 51 of the Constitution and prepare members for the election of the president and presiding officers.