Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Encyclopedia
The Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP) is the legislature
of the Western Cape
province of South Africa
. It is located in the Provincial Government Building at 7 Wale Street, Cape Town
.
The Provincial Parliament, along with the other provincial legislatures of South Africa
, exists by virtue of Chapter 6 of the Constitution of South Africa
and Chapter 3 of the Constitution of the Western Cape. It is unicameral, and consists of 42 members elected by a system of party-list proportional representation
.
The Western Cape is unique amongst the provinces of South Africa
in calling its legislature the "Provincial Parliament" and the members Members of Provincial Parliament
(MPPs). The other provinces use the terms "Provincial Legislature" and "Members of the Provincial Legislature".
The Fourth Provincial Parliament was elected on 22 April 2009 in South Africa's fourth democratic elections
. A majority of the members belong to the Democratic Alliance.
. The executive head of the provincial government, the Premier of the Western Cape, is elected by the Members of the Provincial Parliament from amongst themselves; conventionally the Premier will be the leader of the largest party in the parliament. The Premier then chooses the members of the Provincial Cabinet, who must also be MPPs. The Provincial Parliament also has the power to force the Premier and Cabinet to resign, by passing a motion of no confidence
.
The legislative power of the Provincial Parliament is restricted to certain fields enumerated in the national Constitution; in some of these fields the power is shared with the national Parliament
. The fields on which the Provincial Parliament may legislate include health care
, primary
and secondary education
, agriculture
, transport
, and land use planning
. It also controls the budget of the provincial government departments.
Legislation may be introduced by any member, except for money bill
s, which may be introduced only by the Provincial Minister of Finance. Laws passed by the Provincial Parliament must be signed by the Premier before coming into effect. The Premier may refer a bill back to Parliament for reconsideration if she believes it is unconstitutional. If the Parliament re-passes it, then the Premier must either sign it or refer it to the Constitutional Court
, which can make a final decision on its constitutionality.
, assisted by a Deputy Speaker. the Speaker is Shahid Esau
and the Deputy Speaker is Richard Majola, both members of the Democratic Alliance.
Apart from being the executive head of the province, the Premier also leads the governing party or coalition in the Provincial Parliament. The leader of the largest party not in government is recognised as Leader of the Opposition
. the Premier is Helen Zille
of the Democratic Alliance, and the Leader of the Opposition is Lynne Brown
of the African National Congress
.
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
of the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
province of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is located in the Provincial Government Building at 7 Wale Street, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
The Provincial Parliament, along with the other provincial legislatures of South Africa
Provincial legislature (South Africa)
In South Africa, a provincial legislature is the legislative branch of the government of a province. The provincial legislatures are unicameral and vary in size from 30 to 80 members depending on the population of the province...
, exists by virtue of Chapter 6 of the Constitution of South Africa
Constitution of South Africa
The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the country of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government. The current constitution, the country's fifth, was...
and Chapter 3 of the Constitution of the Western Cape. It is unicameral, and consists of 42 members elected by a system of party-list proportional representation
Party-list proportional representation
Party-list proportional representation systems are a family of voting systems emphasizing proportional representation in elections in which multiple candidates are elected...
.
The Western Cape is unique amongst the provinces of South Africa
Provinces of South Africa
South Africa is currently divided into nine provinces. On the eve of the 1994 general election, South Africa's former homelands, also known as Bantustans, were reintegrated and the four existing provinces were divided into nine. The twelfth, thirteenth and sixteenth amendments to the constitution...
in calling its legislature the "Provincial Parliament" and the members Members of Provincial Parliament
Member of Provincial Parliament (Western Cape)
In the Western Cape province of South Africa, Member of Provincial Parliament is the designation given to members of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament....
(MPPs). The other provinces use the terms "Provincial Legislature" and "Members of the Provincial Legislature".
The Fourth Provincial Parliament was elected on 22 April 2009 in South Africa's fourth democratic elections
South African general election, 2009
South Africa held national and provincial elections to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each province on 22 April 2009....
. A majority of the members belong to the Democratic Alliance.
Powers
The Provincial Parliament is modelled on the Westminster systemWestminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
. The executive head of the provincial government, the Premier of the Western Cape, is elected by the Members of the Provincial Parliament from amongst themselves; conventionally the Premier will be the leader of the largest party in the parliament. The Premier then chooses the members of the Provincial Cabinet, who must also be MPPs. The Provincial Parliament also has the power to force the Premier and Cabinet to resign, by passing a motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
.
The legislative power of the Provincial Parliament is restricted to certain fields enumerated in the national Constitution; in some of these fields the power is shared with the national Parliament
Parliament of South Africa
The Parliament of South Africa is South Africa's legislature and under the country's current Constitution is composed of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces....
. The fields on which the Provincial Parliament may legislate include health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
, and land use planning
Land use planning
Land-use planning is the term used for a branch of public policy encompassing various disciplines which seek to order and regulate land use in an efficient and ethical way, thus preventing land-use conflicts. Governments use land-use planning to manage the development of land within their...
. It also controls the budget of the provincial government departments.
Legislation may be introduced by any member, except for money bill
Money bill
In the Westminster system , a money bill or supply bill is a bill that solely concerns taxation or government spending , as opposed to changes in public law.- Conventions :...
s, which may be introduced only by the Provincial Minister of Finance. Laws passed by the Provincial Parliament must be signed by the Premier before coming into effect. The Premier may refer a bill back to Parliament for reconsideration if she believes it is unconstitutional. If the Parliament re-passes it, then the Premier must either sign it or refer it to the Constitutional Court
Constitutional Court of South Africa
The Constitutional Court of South Africa was established in 1994 by South Africa's first democratic constitution: the Interim Constitution of 1993. In terms of the 1996 Constitution the Constitutional Court established in 1994 continues to hold office. The court began its first sessions in February...
, which can make a final decision on its constitutionality.
Officers
The presiding officer of the Provincial Parliament is the SpeakerSpeaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
, assisted by a Deputy Speaker. the Speaker is Shahid Esau
Shahid Esau
Shahid Esau is a South African politician with the Democratic Alliance, who is currently the Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature under Helen Zille's provincial administration.-References:...
and the Deputy Speaker is Richard Majola, both members of the Democratic Alliance.
Apart from being the executive head of the province, the Premier also leads the governing party or coalition in the Provincial Parliament. The leader of the largest party not in government is recognised as Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government...
. the Premier is Helen Zille
Helen Zille
Helen Zille is the Premier of the Western Cape, a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, leader of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance political party, and a former Mayor of Cape Town.Zille is a former journalist and anti-apartheid activist, and famously exposed the truth...
of the Democratic Alliance, and the Leader of the Opposition is Lynne Brown
Lynne Brown
Lynne Brown is the former Premier of the Western Cape province in South Africa. She was born in Cape Town on 26 September 1961 and grew up in Mitchell's Plain. She was appointed to the post following the resignation of Ebrahim Rasool in July 2008. Previously, she was Minister for Economic...
of the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
.
List of Speakers
| Name | Entered Office | Left Office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willem Doman Willem Doman Willem Doman is a South African politician, currently the Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and a Member of Parliament for the opposition Democratic Alliance.Doman is also one of the party's parliamentary whips.... |
1994 | 2001 | NNP |
| Lynne Brown Lynne Brown Lynne Brown is the former Premier of the Western Cape province in South Africa. She was born in Cape Town on 26 September 1961 and grew up in Mitchell's Plain. She was appointed to the post following the resignation of Ebrahim Rasool in July 2008. Previously, she was Minister for Economic... |
2001 | 2004 | ANC African National Congress The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a... |
| Shaun Byneveldt | 2004 | 2009 | ANC African National Congress The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a... |
| Shahid Esau Shahid Esau Shahid Esau is a South African politician with the Democratic Alliance, who is currently the Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature under Helen Zille's provincial administration.-References:... |
2009 | Present | DA |
See also
- Provincial legislature (South Africa)Provincial legislature (South Africa)In South Africa, a provincial legislature is the legislative branch of the government of a province. The provincial legislatures are unicameral and vary in size from 30 to 80 members depending on the population of the province...
- List of Members of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
- List of Acts of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament