Leader of the House Justice Nthomeng Majara has apologised to the public after the National Assembly failed to form a quorum in the House on Friday 24 March 2023. Speaking in the National Assembly on Monday, Justice Majara said this was uncalled for and that it should not have happened and promised
that it will not happen again. Leader of Opposition Mr Mathibeli Mokhothu lambasted the Members for being absent in the National Assembly after lunch last Friday that led to the House being suspended.He stated that budget speech was an important issue to Members of Parliament but that it is more important to
the Government of the day.

Mr Mokhothu highlighted that international trips are suspended to allow all the Members of the House and cabinet ministers to attend the financial estimates debates, saying the Prime Minister himself should
ensure that each and every step of the financial estimates were being followed. He quoted the Standing Order No. 4 which he said deals with attendance of the Members into the house, saying it spells clearly that any member should report to the Speaker if he or she intends to be
absent.

The Leader of the House therefore condemned the incident that led to the disruption of the House’s day business.  Justice Majara subsequently urged the Members to resolve to change the hour of conclusion of sitting of the House for Monday 27th and Tuesday, from 6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m to enable the House to dispose off the 2023/2024 Annual Estimates on the set date of 28th March, 2023. She stated that the House was running out of time and changing the hour of conclusion of sitting will enable the Members to finalise the annual estimates on time in order to meet the deadline of the next year’s financial estimates which is March 31. Justice Majara was seconded into the motion by Minister of Health Mr Selibe Mochoboroane and the house adopted the motion.