President Kgalema Motlanthe on Tuesday announced that the date for the general elections will be April 22 2009.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Motlanthe said: ”I also take this opportunity to announce the date of the fourth national and provincial elections for our country: April 22 2009. I must, however, emphasise that the actual proclamation of this date will be made later.”
The proclamation of the date, which means its publication in the Government Gazette, is what will officially fire the starting gun for the election. On that day the voting rolls will be finally closed. Before then the rolls are still open for latecomers to register to vote at their local council offices.
Motlanthe also appealed to political parties for political tolerance.
”Let us expand the floor for political tolerance, ensuring that in whatever we do we guarantee a climate of freedom of assembly, expression and association. The right of all political parties to campaign in a politically free atmosphere must be respected at all times.”
Meanwhile, he said that the outcome of the political process in Zimbabwe was a sign that South Africa took the correct approach to the crisis in that country. ”In essence, this is a vindication that our approach to the crisis of Zimbabwe all along has been correct, despite scepticism in certain quarters.â€
This comment by Motlanthe drew loud criticism from MPs. He also called on the international community to end sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Arms deal
On Monday, opposition MPs appealed to Motlanthe to appoint a commission of inquiry into the arms deal.
In this regard, he said: ”That would constitute a parallel legal process, since the ordinary process of the law is sufficient to get to the bottom of any well-based allegations of a criminal nature against anyone. The latter process should reach anyone at any level of government in arms procurement. And all formations of society, including the honourable members of this house [National Assembly] should support and assist the criminal justice and other authorities to do just this.
”Anyone in society with information that can assist the law-enforcement agencies should pass it on to the investigators.”
He also said that he is awaiting the report by the standing committee on public accounts, which is looking at new evidence on the arms deal.
Motlanthe also announced that the government will host a policy summit on climate change this year to devise more mitigation programmes. ”Various stakeholders and social partners are involved in planning to mitigate the impact [of climate change] on energy, health, transport and agriculture.”
Speaking on basic services, he said: ”In relation to the provision of basic services, we have acknowledged as government and partners that there are areas that require improved rigour and speed, including the matter of sanitation.”
The government has come under severe criticism for the unsatisfactory manner in which it dealt with the cholera outbreak in South Africa. Cholera is seen to be a disease that can be prevented with proper sanitation systems.