NORTH WEST PROVINCE IS READY FOR NOVEMBER 1 POLLS

Issued by: North West Communication Service

North West province has emerged as one of the provinces which
had satisfactorily covered enough ground, in terms of the time
frames set up to prepare, to go ahead with the Local Government
elections on November 1.

In the past week all nine provinces, together with the national
Ministry of Provincial and Constitutional Affairs, met to assess
the readiness of the provinces to hold the elections on due date.

Mr D Africa, MEC of Local Government, Housing, Planning and
Development said on Friday nearly 80 per cent of potential voters
had registered, and this figure could increase after the first and
second reinspection of the voters roll.

"The public reinspection went will and the Revision Court will
certify the final voters' roll on August 8. Between August 9 and 13,
the roll will be printed into wards giving people ample time to
check their names and familiarise themselves with their wards.
"Participation in rural areas has been very impressive, despite
scepticism in some areas. This put North West at number one in the
provinces for potential rural voters (73,4 per cent).

Mr Africa said voter education, due to start on August 17, would
focus on rural areas where people have never been exposed to ward
systems, let alone municipal elections.

"The province will be divided into five magisterial districts,
and sub-magisterial districts where possible and necessary. The
structure will consist of directly elected members plus nominated
members from traditional leaders, land owners, levy payers and the
mining industry," he said.

Mr Africa said there would be 1342 polling stations in the
province. Nominations of candidates are to be lodged by September 4.

"We assure you this political battle will be conducted in a
manner acceptable to all. The department will soon proclaim a code
of conduct to be adopties will meet
with the provincial co-ordinating committee on August 16 to adopt
the code," he said.