Dissolution of the National Assembly

(1) The National Assembly shall stand dissolved on the 23rd day of July in the fifth year after its election, and polling for the general elections for the next National Assembly shall take place concurrently with the election for the President and local councillors and the polling day shall be the Tuesday in the third week of September that year: Provided that where it is not practicable for the polling to be held on the Tuesday in the third week of September, the polling shall be held on any day, within seven days from that Tuesday, appointed by the Electoral Commission; and Provided further that, in the case of the National Assembly constituted in June, 2019, the members so elected and constituting the National Assembly shall hold office until the 23rd day of July, 2025. [subsection (1) substituted by section 2 of Act 13 of 2020 ] (2) This section shall not preclude the Electoral Commission from setting other days for polling in the general election for special classes or categories of voters, provided that such polling takes place not more than two days, before or after the polling day, excluding Sundays. (3) The first meeting of the National Assembly shall commence on a date to be appointed by the President occurring within forty-five days after the polling day or, where polling takes place on more than one day, within forty-five days after the last polling day. (4) If, between the dissolution of the National Assembly and the general election that follows, the President is of the opinion that a constitutional crisis or emergency has arisen which requires urgent legislation or consideration by the National Assembly, he or she may reconvene the National Assembly for that purpose alone, but in any event, that reconvened National Assembly, shall stand dissolved on the date of the general election. (5) Notwithstanding the dissolution of the National Assembly on the date specified in subsection (1), every person who, immediately before the dissolution of the National Assembly in accordance with subsection (1), is a member of the National Assembly shall be entitled to receive his or her remuneration and other benefits up to and including the last date preceding the general election. [38 of 1998; 11 of 1999]