De Klerk: Not many can rejoice
2004-04-15 19:16
Johannesburg - While the elections were a success logistically and security-wise, very few parties have reason to rejoice, former president FW de Klerk said on Thursday.
He said in a statement: "As a country we can heave a sigh of relief. However, very few parties have reason to rejoice.
"It already seems clear that we are still caught up in the logjams of the past - the African National Congress still wields more power than is healthy for any democracy."
The former president said the opposition parties once again played musical chairs while apparently having only succeeded in maintaining or even reducing their joint total share of the vote.
"Voting patterns have once again been influenced far too much by race and ethnicity."
De Klerk said as a supporter of the philosophy of co-operation and consensus seeking, as espoused by the New National Party, he was disappointed.
I firmly believe that a country in transition, like South Africa with its complex diversity and major socio-economic problems, is best served by partnership and negotiation rather than confrontation.
"Hopefully the Western Cape will prove this in the five years ahead of us."
Watch the provisional results of the national and provincial elections as they come in on News24.com
- SAPA