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In today’s (25 April 2013) Sitting of the House, the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature appointed the former BCM Mayor, Zukisa Faku, as a permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). The vacancy has occurred in March 2013 among the permanent delegates representing the Eastern Cape in the NCOP.

The Chairperson of the NCOP, Honourable Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, in accordance with section 2 of the National Council of Provinces (Permanent Delegates Vacancies) ACT, (No 17 of 1997), formally informed the Honourable Speaker, Fikile Xasa, that Honourable Siphiwo Mazosiwe who was representing the Eastern Cape in the NCOP, tendered his resignation on 26 March 2013.

Section 3 of the ACT further requires the Provincial Legislature to appoint a person to serve as a permanent delegate and inform the NCOP of such an appointment. Election to the NCOP is indirect given that citizens vote for Provincial Legislatures, and each Legislature then nominates a delegation of ten members to the NCOP. Each provincial delegation consists of six permanent delegates, who are nominated for a term that lasts until a new Provincial Legislature is elected, and four special delegates.

During the House Sitting, moments before the appointment, the Honourable Speaker, Fikile Xasa, said the Act stipulates that the party which nominated the vacating permanent delegate, must nominate a person to be appointed by the Legislature. ”We received one nomination and have informed the ruling party about such and therefore the Chief Whip, Honourable Humphrey Maxegwana, shall nominate the candidate to this House,” Honourable Xasa said.

The newly elected permanent delegate shall be sworn-in in Parliament in Cape Town on a date to be communicated, and shall thereafter resume her duties. Honourable Mazosiwe served as a permanent delegate in the National Council of Provinces for a period of four years.