Phased elections could spark crisis in government: Markinor

JOHANNESBURG Aug 4 Sapa

The decision to go ahead with phased local government elections
could trigger a crisis in the Government of National Unity,
according to the latest Business Climate Intelligence report
published by the Markinor Research group.

But the warning was tempered by a finding that phased elections
were far more favourable than total postponement, or carrying on
regardless.

"Although the decision to go ahead with phased elections has
kept the process of democratisation in South Africa on track, the
move could precipitate a crisis in the Government of National Unity
and between central and local government," Markinor said in a
statement on Friday.

"The report indicates that the implications of the phased
election route are far more favourbale than those of the other two
options.

"The phased option will reduce conflict, ease pressure on the
security forces and send a positive message to the international
community and particulary investors," Markinor account director
Mari Harris commented.

An inflexible attitude would have caused new business partners
to "baulk at investing in South Africa", thus weakening the
international links established since last year's general election,
Harris said.

According to the report, the local government elections,
conflict in KwaZulu/Natal and South Africa's re-entry into the
international ecenomic system dominated the state of the nation.

The report is released quarterly by the Markinor reseach group
and the University of Potchefstroom's Institute for Futures
Studies.