Buthelezi mum on poll law
2003-01-03 22:30
Johannesburg - Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi was mum on Friday about whether he would attempt, for a second time, to table an electoral law amendment in Cabinet paving the way for early elections in KwaZulu-Natal.
In a written reply to a question from Sapa, Buthelezi indicated he would wait until the province's legislature made a decision on the poll before approaching the cabinet again.
KwaZulu-Natal's Inkatha Freedom Party premier Lionel Mtshali has called a special session of the legislature for Wednesday, January 8, at which IFP legislators, backed by those of the Democratic Alliance, are expected to pass a resolution dissolving the house.
This will allow Mtshali to call new elections within 90 days.
The IFP has said it wants an election to be held before the ANC pushes through what the IFP calls "an undemocratic constitutional amendment" at national level that will allow floor-crossing at provincial level and effectively give the ANC control of the province's government.
However, no legislation allowing for such elections currently exists and the poll cannot not be held until the amendment to the 1993 Electoral Act drafted by Buthelezi's department is accepted by Cabinet and enacted.
Buthelezi is both the minister responsible for such matters and the national leader of the IFP.
Amendment plans rejected
An attempt by Buthelezi to table the amendment in December -anticipating a move by KwaZulu-Natal to call an early poll - was rebuffed by President Thabo Mbeki, who told him at the time that it was too soon to consider such a draft amendment.
Buthelezi said in his reply on Friday that he had accepted Mbeki's decision.
He declined to say when he would attempt to resubmit the draft to Cabinet.
"In the circumstances, I think you will appreciate that until the Legislature makes a definite decision on the election, it would be inappropriate for me to start speculating on what I may or may not do and protocol also dictates that I first share with my colleagues in Cabinet anything I wish to do, for it is they who must decide on any draft Bill I may present to them," he said.
ANC
Earlier on Friday, the African National Congress called the IFP's bid to force an early election "an act of desperation".
In a statement issued after a meeting of its extended provincial executive, it said the IFP and the DA were determined to retain Mtshali as premier even if it meant spending "billions" on a poll.
"It is an act of desperation on the part of the DA/IFP alliance, and it is not in the interests of good governance," the ANC said.
"The ANC is not afraid of elections, but it must be free and fair elections, allowing all people the right to choose their public representatives free of an intimidation, violence and coercion."
- SAPA