JOURNALIST QWELANE WILL NOT STAND FOR ELECTION

JOHANNESBURG Sept 13 Sapa

Journalist Jon Qwelane on Wednesday said he will not be
standing in the November 1 local government elections, although his
name had been put forward as a candidate.

He said in a statement he had learnt with surprise that he had
been nominated by the African National Congress to stand in a ward
in Boksburg. This had been done witout his ermission or
knowledge.

His name had been put forward as an independent, apparently as
a ploy to circumvent his objections as a journalist to standing.

Although he had been approached to stand by community leaders
and politicians, he had on each occasion made it clear that he
would not stand.

Qwelane said he was not a member of any party. Among his
reasons for not standing was that he valued his journalistic
independence and credibility.