Pretoria - Former North West Premier Thandi Modise has been elected unopposed as the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday.
Modise replaces Mninwa Mahlangu who retired in the last term.
NCOP member Raseriti Tau was elected as deputy chairperson. Tau’s election was also unopposed.
Earlier, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng swore in the 54 permanent delegates to the NCOP.
Each province is represented by 10 permanent and special delegates in the NCOP including premiers of provinces. The 10 is made up of six permanent delegates and four special delegates.
The six permanent delegates are the full time members of the NCOP and special delegates are the full time members of the Provincial Legislatures and they attend the proceedings of the NCOP as and when it is necessary.
The NCOP is tasked with a unique role in the promotion of the principles of cooperative government and intergovernmental relations.
They also ensure that the three spheres of government work together in performing their unique functions in terms of the Constitution and that in doing so, they do not encroach in each other’s area of competence.
The African National Congress has 33 permanent delegates and 27 special delegates, while the Democratic Alliance has 13 permanent and seven special delegates.
The Economic Freedom Fighters has six permanent and one special delegate and the Inkatha Freedom Party has one permanent delegate and no special delegates.
The United Democratic Movement has one permanent delegate and no special delegate; and the National Freedom Party has no permanent delegates and one special delegate. – SAnews.gov.za
