'NNP to meet ANC soon'

2004-04-14 09:32

Cape Town - The New National Party's leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk made a last minute appeal to South Africans to cast their vote in the country's third democratic elections on Wednesday.

"In KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape every vote has the potential to determine the outcome of the elections. I appeal to our supporters to make the NNP strong," Van Schalkwyk said after casting his vote at the Jan van Riebeeck High School in Oranjezicht, Cape Town.

The Western Cape premier and his wife Suzette arrived shortly after 07:00 and appeared relaxed and in good spirit.

Van Schalkwyk, dressed in dark blue shirt, waved to a number of journalists waiting outside the school before joining a queue of about 80 people waiting to vote.

The couple shook hands with the Independent Electoral Commission officials at the door and then struck up conversation with other voters while waiting in the queue.

Van Schalkwyk told journalists he believed South Africa was at a political cross-roads.

"Today is an important day... today it will be decided if the minority can take the hands of the majority and vote a truly non-racial society."

He said it was clear that the ANC will obtain a comfortable majority.

"The NNP wants to ensure that it stays in government to serve the interest of the people. I am confident we will do well but everything will depend on voter turnout."

Van Schalkwyk said that no decision has been made on premiership of the Western Cape where the NNP is in an election pact with the ANC.

"I appreciate all the support but in a coalition you have to negotiate those positions. As politicians we are all applying for our jobs."

Van Schalkwyk said the ANC and the NNP had agreed "in principle" to meet as soon as the results of the elections were known.

"We agreed in principle to meet as soon as possible to discuss what will happen in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape."

Van Schalkwyk would spend the rest of the day visiting various polling stations in Cape Town. He said he will take an hour with his children who he had not seen in the last month.

"I will stay awake through the night like most people to hear results as they come in."

- SAPA