NP DEPLORES CABINET DECISION ON LOCAL ELECTION LEGISLATION

PRETORIA Sept 27 Sapa

The National Party on Wednesday deplored the cabinet's decision
earlier in the day to include proclamations declared invalid by the
Constitutional Court in new legislation on the local government
elections.

"This move by the African National Congress could jeopardise
the November 1 elections," NP constitutional spokesman Fanus
Schoeman said in a statement in Pretoria.

The cabinet decided a single Bill should be put before
parliament to rectify defects in the Local Government Transition
Act, and that it should include the controversial proclamations
declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court last week.

An NP proposal that the proclamations be dealt with in a
separate Bill was rejected. It earlier threatened another
Constitutional Court action if this was not accepted.

Schoeman said there would be no possibility of further
litigation if the ANC had accepted the option mooted by the NP.

"It is a pity that the ANC allowed their own party-political
interests and prejudice against the Western Cape to carry more
weight than the interests of the country."

Schoeman added the NP was eager for the elections to go ahead
on November 1, and it would keep on seeking ways to make this
possible.

The party would, for example, use parliamentary procedures,
including proposing amendments to legislation introduced.

"There is nothing new in our approach. We have consistently
been voting against the controversial proclamations in the cabinet
as well as the portfolio committee."