Law coming to force local elections - ANC

CAPE TOWN August 17 Sapa

Local authorities would be forced to hold elections by the end
of March next year or face disbandment, the ANC's parliamentary
caucus decided on Thursday.

Speaking after the caucus meeting, the party's Senate chief
whip Bulelani Ngcuka said this would be "translated into
legislation" during this session of Parliament.

If transitional local authorities had not been able to hold
elections by then, they would be dissolved and an administrator
appointed who would report to the national Minister of Local
Government.

"It would be clear to us by then that (provincial local
government) MECs would have lost control or would be unwilling to
implement elections," he said.

The caucus had also decided voters should be allowed another
chance to register for the polls between September 11 and 24.