South AfricaZA

Article 51 of the Constitution of South Africa

Article
51
Chapter
CHAPTER 4 — PARLIAMENT
Index row title
(1) After an election, the first sitting of the National Assembly must take place at a time and on a date determined by the Chief Justice, but not more than 14 days after
Source document
The South Africa Constitution
Provision ID
16d668d2-fe51-4a59-9bec-3a8b5be9505b

114 words

Verbatim text

time and on a date determined by the Chief Justice, but not more than 14 days after the election result has been declared. The Assembly may determine the time and duration of its other sittings and its recess periods. [Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 1 of the Constitution Sixth Amendment Act of 2001.] (2) The President may summon the National Assembly to an extraordinary sitting at any time to conduct special business. (3) Sittings of the National Assembly are permitted at places other than the seat of Parliament only on the grounds of public interest, security or convenience, and if provided for in the rules and orders of the Assembly. Speaker and Deputy Speaker

What this means

  • The index files this text under article 51 of the Constitution of South Africa.
  • The index files it under the chapter heading “CHAPTER 4 — PARLIAMENT”.
  • The passage runs to about 114 words.
  • Read plainly, it mentions assembly and association — it protects gathering together or joining a group, union or party (the words used: “Assembly”).

The row’s stored title is a body fragment, not a heading (“(1) After an election, the first sitting of the National Assembly must take place at a time and on a date determined by the Chief Justice, but not more than 14 days after”), so it is not used as the provision’s title here.

The index gives this passage an article number but stores a body fragment where a heading would be, so the number could not be cross-checked against the text. Check it against the official Constitution before relying on it in a citation.

This is a mechanical reading aid generated from the text above by matching words in it. It is not legal advice, not a lawyer’s interpretation, and not a substitute for the provision itself.

How to cite this

Constitution of South Africa, article 51, Portable Lawyer, https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/16d668d2-fe51-4a59-9bec-3a8b5be9505b (accessed 25 October 2026).

Canonical URL: https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/16d668d2-fe51-4a59-9bec-3a8b5be9505b

Accessed 25 October 2026.

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