A BUSY week ahead for Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng who will be swearing in new Members of Parliament on Wednesday.
It is an exciting time for the newcomers, especially the youngsters in Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters who've been counting the sleeps and polishing their berets for the occasion.
But it's not going to be all giddy fun and photo-ops. There's homework to be done. The Effniks, if I may, will have to find time, between appointments with the haberdashers and hair stylists, to acquaint themselves with Parliamentary procedure.
They'll need to bone up on the invective if they are, in the interests of the national discourse, to barrack their ruling party opponents - the rules of engagement call for a higher form of calumny, nothing crude or untoward.
It is true that parliamentary privilege allows members to let fly with the odd "witticism" here and there, but the Speaker draws the line - and this is a point that cannot be over-emphasised - at the baring of buttocks and slaps to the face, tactics that once worked wonders for Juju when he led the ANC Youth League.
The opportunity for jeering and the blowing of raspberries will soon arise. As we understand it, here at the Mahogany Ridge, once MPs are sworn in, the National Assembly then votes to elect Jacob Zuma to a second term in office as President. He will be sworn in on Friday.