MEDIA STATEMENT BY MR R P MEYER, MINISTER OF
PROVINCIAL AFFAIRS AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Issued by: Minister of Provincial Affairs and Constitutional
Development

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS: 1 NOVEMBER 1995

The Local Government elections are still firmly on course for 1
November 1995. Preparations by the Department of Constitutional
Development and the Task Group on Local Government Elections are
progressing as planned and the MEC's for Local Government of the
Provinces will meet again next week with me to finalise arrangements
for the elections.

It needs to be emphasized that nothing has changed the need for
local government elections at the earliest possible date. Nothing
has changed the urgent requirement for stable, democratic local
government to be established and to start delivering the dire
necessity of services in communities around the country. Stable
local government is a prerequisite for peace, order and economic
empowerment in South Africa, and only democratic local government
elections as soon as possible can achieve that. The idea of
extending the election date still is a dangerous and callous notion
which nobody with the interest of the country at heart, should
entertain.

It is now imperative that local and metropolitan councils
continue full steam with all polling arrangements and logistical
preparations for elections.

Election date still is November 1, 1995, for all provinces
except KwaZulu-Natal, and all areas except the Cape Metropole and
certain rural areas. We need to achieve that. We need to grasp the
nettle. We owe it to our country.

PRETORIA
28 SEPTEMBER 1995