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National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chairperson, Ms Thandi Modise, will be among five Members of Parliament (MPs) to be sworn in at the opening ceremony of the sixth Ordinary Session of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) that will take place tomorrow, 7 May in Midrand.

The other four MPs are: Ms Thoko Didiza – the National Assembly’s (NA) House Chairperson for Internal Arrangements, Mr Julius Malema – leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Mr Mandlesizwe Zwelivelile Mandela and Ms Santosh Vinita Kalyan. They are replacing Dr Hunadi Mateme, Ms Thandi Memela, Mr Charles Nqakula and Mr Floyd Shivambu while Ms Kalyan will serve another two-year term.

The five MPs were nominated for membership of the PAP on behalf of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa by the NA and the NCOP on 24 October and 23 October 2017, respectively.

The theme for the Session – which takes place from 7 to 18 May - is: “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.” Among others, the Session will discuss, recommend and take resolutions on matters including the Europe-Africa Forum on the Challenges and Opportunities of Migration Flows; the Report on the African Union (AU) Year of Combating Corruption; the report on action on Albinism in Africa; the terminal report of the Committee on Audit and Public Accounts; and the Report on Repealing Defamation Laws to Promote Press Freedom.

The PAP has 255 members representing 55 AU Member States that have ratified the Protocol establishing it. In terms of the Article 4 (2) of the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community relating to the PAP, each State shall be represented by five members which at least one of them being a woman. The five members from each country must include at least one woman and reflect the diversity of political representation in the National Parliament or deliberative organ.

Issued by Parliament of South Africa