Possibility of partial WCape poll known by Friday

CAPE TOWN Aug 15 Sapa

The possibility of local government elections being held in at
least parts of the Western Cape on November 1 could be known by
Friday.

The province's MEC for Local Government, Peter Marais, said on
Tuesday that local government elections would definitely not be
possible in the Western Cape's metropolitan area and certain rural
areas on that day, while the position in the 95 Transitional Local
Council areas would only be known by Friday.

He told Sapa in an interview that he had imparted this
information to a meeting of Minmec - consisting of Minister of
Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development Roelf Meyer; his
deputy, Valli Moosa; and the provincial local government MECs -
held in Cape Town on Tuesday morning.

Marais said the meeting had discussed the countrywide situation
regarding the local government elections and amendments to the
Local Government Transition Act and the interim Constitution to
make staggered elections possible and to provide for proportional
rather than ward-based elections in certain rural areas.

"I told them that as far as the metropole is concerned, an
election (on November 1) is out completely," Marais said.

An election would also definitely not be possible in rural
areas outside the metropole and the TLC areas, he told Minmec.