Coronavirus: South African Parliament Makes History By Resuming Its Business Via Virtual Meetings

Charles Molele

Parliament has approved rules to allow members of the National Assembly, National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and parliamentary committees to participate in virtual meetings via electronic means, according to the Office of the Speaker.

The decision was taken in order to allow MPS to continue to debate various issues and legislations in Parliament, including how to deal with the coronavirus crisis using a video-link. 

The rules governing virtual meetings were published on Wednesday in Parliament’s Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports.

In a media statement on Wednesday, parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said that during virtual meetings MPs will have the same powers, privileges and immunities as they ordinarily have in parliamentary proceedings and quorum requirements will be determined by the Constitution and the Rules. Current rules on order in public meetings and in debates will apply, where relevant.

“The Presiding Officer of a House or the chairperson of a