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Republic of South Africa Constitution

Act No. 32 of 1961.

experience or otherwise, with the interests of the coloured population in the province for which the said senator is nominated, and that the said senator should be capable inter alia of serving as the channel through which the interests of the said coloured population in that province may be promoted.

(3) If the seat of a senator so nominated becomes vacant. the State President shall nominate another person to hold the seat until the completion of the period for which the person in whose stead he is nominated, would have held the seat.


Elected senators.

30. (1) The senators elected under sub-section (3) of section twenty-eight shall hold their seats for five years unless the Senate be sooner dissolved.

(2) If the seat of an elected senator becomes vacant, the sitting members of the House of Assembly and the provincial councillors for the province concerned (other than the members and provincial councillors elected under the Separate Representation of Voters Act, 1951), shall elect a person to hold the seat until the completion of the period for which the person in whose stead he is elected, would have held the seat.

(3) The election of senators shall take place according to the principle of proportional representation, each voter having one transferable vote.

(4) The State President may make regulations in regard to the election of senators under this Act, including regulations prescribing the method of voting and of transferring and counting votes and the duties of returning officers in connection with such elections.


Standing committees of Senate.

31. The Senate may from time to time establish standing committees as it may deem fit, and any Minister or deputy of a Minister may at any time with due regard to the rules of the Senate, move that any matter be referred to such a committee for investigation and report.


Announcing of legislation intended to be introduced in Senate.

32. The Prime Minister or any Minister acting on his behalf shall at the commencement of each session and may from time to time during the course of any session of Parliament as circumstances may require, make known what bills are to be introduced in the Senate during that session.


Dissolution of the Senate and vacation of seats by nominated senators in certain circumstances.

33. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law the State President may―

(a)

at any time by proclamation in the Gazette dissolve the Senate simultaneously with the House of Assembly;

(b)

dissolve the Senate at any time within one hundred and twenty days of any dissolution of the House of Assembly or the expiry of the term of office of a provincial council under section seventy-one.

(2) Upon any such dissolution of the Senate all the members of the Senate, including those members who were elected