For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: Parly budgets R54m for 7th Parliament; DA welcomes Winde’s re-election as W Cape Premier; And, South Africa edges closer to new government on eve of key vote

Parly budgets R54m for 7th Parliament

Secretary to Parliament Xolile George said Parliament is fully ready to hold its first sitting of the National Assembly, where the country’s President and National Speaker will be elected on Friday, for a budget of about R58-million.

The first sitting of the NA and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), which will be held on Saturday, will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Briefing the media today, George highlighted that the budget reflects the expanded needs and rising costs associated with ensuring that all MPs are adequately supported in their roles.

He noted that five years ago, the establishment of the sixth Parliament incurred costs amounting to about R43-million.

DA welcomes Winde’s re-election as W Cape Premier

The Western Cape Parliament held its first sitting today when it saw the re-election of Alan Winde as Western Cape Premier for another five years, which the Democratic Alliance has welcomed.

Winde was sworn in alongside Speaker Daylin Mitchell and Reagen Allen as Deputy Speaker.

The elected members swore their oaths of office and Winde said it was a profound honour and privilege.

The DA congratulated Winde and the new parliamentary leadership and expressed confidence that “they will serve in the best interest of all in the Western Cape”.

And, South Africa edges closer to new government on eve of key vote

South Africa’s biggest political rivals are close to clinching a deal to form a new government on the eve of the election of the nation’s president.

The African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance have resolved key obstacles to an accord that will enable Cyril Ramaphosa to be re-elected as president by lawmakers tomorrow, according to people familiar with ongoing talks between the two parties.

Talks are progressing even after the ANC’s negotiating team had to postpone a meeting with the DA yesterday, spooking some members of the main opposition party.

The ANC has been forced to seek coalition agreements with rivals after losing its parliamentary majority in last month’s elections. It invited all the nation’s main parties to join a broad alliance to form the next administration in a so-called government of national unity, or GNU.

In addition to the DA, which espouses free-market principles, the business-friendly Inkatha Freedom Party has signalled it will join the government, as has the Patriotic Alliance, the sixth-largest party. Former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party and the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters have so far opted out of joining the next administration.

The axing of an EFF member from the mayoral committee in Ekurhuleni east of Johannesburg is another signal that plans to form a national coalition is on course.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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