Issued by: Ministry of Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development
MEDIA STATEMENT BY MR R P MEYER, MINISTER OF PROVINCIAL AFFAIRS AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The statement issued today by a spokesperson on behalf of the ANC in KwaZulu Natal regarding the determination of the local government elections in Kwazulu-Natal and Western Cape, refers.
The spokesman is clearly misinformed about the consultation process leading to a decision regarding 29 May 1996 as election date.
Since it is the responsibility of the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development in terms of the Local Government Transition Act to determine the date or dates for the outstanding local government elections, a process of consultation was followed by Deputy Minister Valli Mossa and myself with the Election Task Group and the MEC's concerned.
The Election Task Group's technical advice was that elections in these areas would not be possible before 22 May 1996 in light of the judgements by the Special Electoral Court. In order to provide adequate time for all preparations, it was then after further consultations decided to determine 29 May 1996 as the election date.
I am satisfied that all parties were equally consulted as I always do in matters such as these.
Pretoria 7 December 1995
ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF PROVINCIAL AFFAIRS AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.