New faces in the National Council of Provinces

JOHANNESBURG - The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will see mostly new faces, with a few notable ones like former Durban mayor Mxolisi Kaunda.

Another face is former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Naledi Chirwa, who was forced to apologise to the party for failing to attend an important sitting last year.

The NCOP elected former Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni Tsipane as chairperson unopposed.

Only four NCOP delegates returned from the previous administration with mostly new members.

One such member is African National Congress (ANC) KZN provincial chairperson and former MEC Siboniso Duma was sworn in as a permanent delegate by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

He called on all delegates to work together.

"If we are to build and better our people we must work together as one."

Other delegates who addressed the sitting include Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and delegates from the eight provinces who also delivered a message of unity.