Parliament’s 2009 legislative programme & dates

Parliament’s 2009 programme: 6 February 2009 (updated as new info obtained)
See also» Programme dates for National Assembly and NCOP

January - February 2009
Normal 0 The President’s Address is on 6 February. The President's Reply to the National Assembly's Debate on his Address takes place on 10 February. It has been the practice that the President announces the date of the election during his Reply and the guesstimate is that the election will be on 15 April. It is probable that the National Assembly will be dissolved on 20 February which is before the expiry of its term. If this is to happen, Section 50 of the Constitution will be followed and the President will dissolve it, after the National Assembly has adopted a resolution that it be dissolved. A similar procedure will happen with the provincial legislatures and each of their Premiers (Section 109).


After the elections
The budget will have to be passed by the end of June. The Office of the Leader of Government Business does not foresee too much new legislation being introduced in the period May to November 2009. New Cabinet ministers will need to review all draft legislation and any outstanding legislation from the Third Parliament. The emphasis will be on oversight such as ensuring the implementation of the 80 bills passed in 2008. However, the Bill to ensure the repeal of the Black Administration Act will have to be introduced and completed. Departments will be submitting legislative programmes in January to the Office of the Leader of Government Business which will release a post-election legislative programme towards the end of February 2009.