Parliament of South Africa

Joined the Commonwealth: Re-joined on 1 June 1994

CPA South Africa Branch: South Africa was one of the six original founding Members of the now Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in 1911. The CPA South Africa Branch was first established in 1912 and later re-joined the CPA in January 1995 following a period of absence.

Unicameral/Bicameral: Bicameral - The National Assembly (400), The National Council of Provinces (90)

Parliament website: https://www.parliament.gov.za/

Standing Orders: The National Assembly

The National Council of Provinces

Constitution: Click here

Number of Departmental/Ministry Oversight Committees: 

• There are 46 Parliamentary Committees (25 Portfolio Committees, 11 Select Committees, four Standing Committees, four Joint Committees, one Ad Hoc Committee and one Committee). 

Number of Portfolio Committees (if bicameral):

• National Assembly (25): Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; Portfolio Committee on Basic Education; Portfolio Committee on Communications; Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs; Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans; Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour; Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries; Portfolio Committee on Health; Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology; Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs; Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation; Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation; Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services; Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy; Portfolio Committee on Police; Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises; Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration; Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure; Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development; Portfolio Committee on Social Development; Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture; Portfolio Committee on Tourism; Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry; Portfolio Committee on Transport; Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.

Number of Select Committees: 11

• Select Committee on Appropriations; Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements; Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture; Select Committee on Finance; Select Committee on Health and Social Services; Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy; Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings; Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Communication; Select Committee on Security and Justice; Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour; Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure. 

Number of Standing Committees: 4

• Standing Committee on Appropriations; Standing Committee on Auditor-General; Standing Committee on Finance, and Standing Committee on Public Accounts. 

Number of Joint Committees: 4

• Joint Standing Committee on Defence; Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament; Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and; Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interest.

Number of Ad-Hoc Committees: 1

• Ad Hoc Committee to initiate and Introduce Legislation amending Section 25 of the Constitution

Number of Committees: 1

• Committee on Multi-Party Women's Caucus

Articles in The Parliamentarian:

• The Parliamentarian 2022 Issue Four - CPA news: CPA Secretary-General visits South Africa Parliament and meets with South Africa Provincial Legislatures
• The Parliamentarian 2022 Issue One - CPA news: South Africa Parliament fire
  
• The Parliamentarian 2021 Issue Four - CPA news: CPA South Africa Branch relaunched
  
• The Parliamentarian 2019 Issue One - Hon. Lindiwe Maseko MP, 'CWP at 30 - View from South Africa by for former CWP Chair'
• The Parliamentarian 2018 Issue Four - Hon. Angela Thoko Didiza, MP, 'Centenary of Nelson Mandela's birth'
• The Parliamentarian 2017 Issue Two - Hon. Angela Thoko Didiza MP, Chairperson of CWP Africa Region, 'Women in Parliament: Speech at Zambia CPA Post-Election Seminar'
• The Parliamentarian 2016 Issue Four - Hon. Angela Thoko Didiza MP, Chairperson of CWP Africa Region, 'The role of the Women's Caucus in advancing the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals'
• The Parliamentarian 2016 Issue One - Hon. Cedric Thomas Frolick MP - also President of GLOBE, 'Climate Change: The South Africa Experience' 
• The Parliamentarian 2014 Issue Two - Hon. Max Sisulu MP, 'Celebrating 20 years of freedom, democracy and peace in South Africa'