DURBAN Aug 17 Sapa

NP calls for postponement of KZN local elections

The National Party in KwaZulu/Natal on Thursday criticised
central government's decision to hold staggered local government
elections in KwaZulu/Natal and called for a complete postponement
of all local elections to a single day in March next year.

Addressing a briefing in Durban, NP KwaZulu/Natal spokesman for
local government Mr Val Volker said staggered elections would
result in widespread chaos and undermine efforts to create peace
and stability in the province.

"Logistically, for the sake of peace and stability it is
essential that we have elections on the same day," Volker said.

He said it was clear less than eight per cent of all registered
voters would be able to vote in the province on November 1 - due
largely to complications arising from the ward demarcation process.

Registered voters could react violently if refused the right to
vote while other voters were allowed to proceed.

Furthermore, staggered elections would result in an effective
eight months of electioneering in the politically tense province.

"In a province like KwaZulu/Natal we cannot afford that length
of time of active electioneering given the political tension,"
Volker said

Furthermore, he warned of a possible central government tactic
- initiated by the African National Congress - to take advantage
of the political "vaccuum" in the province caused by election
delays.

The ANC would had plans, Volker said, to give central
government greater intrusive powers in local government affairs in
the interim period until the final constitution was adopted.

This was in direct conflict with the interim constitution which
declared that local government was a provincial competency.

Volker said almost all political parties were in support of the
NP's postponement call, with the exception of the ANC.

A postponement was the only way to avert a chaotic election
process.

"There is so much confusion among officials at the local
government and provincial level that officials are not certain
about what is happening," Volker said.