Far-rightwingers are planning to hold their own poll in tandem with the local government elections. Jan Taljaard reports
THE far-rightwing is planning its own separate elections to be held at the time of the local government elections in October this year.
True to character, however, the different factions cannot agree on whether to participate in the official elections as well, or whether to ignore them
The Conservative Party stands by its decision in January to participate in the local government elections, but will also call a volksverkiesing in November. Voters’ lists being compiled for use in the official elections will be used in what is being envisaged as a national election among rightwingers to elect a “volk’s council”.
According to well-placed sources, other organisations from the far-right, among them the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging of Eugene Terre’Blanche, are pursuing the idea of a completely separate election to be held concurrently with the local government elections. The issue has been discussed by the top structure of the AWB and during the past few days feelers have been put out to smaller rightwing organisations with a view to possible co-operation. This election may even be held in September in order to pre-empt the official elections.
While organisations such as the AWB may not participate in the official elections, they may be willing to fall in with the CP’s volksverkiesing. It has become apparent in recent weeks, however, that senior members of the AWB will not be drawn into making a clear statement on their position until the amnesty issue is resolved. Spokesman Fred Rundle has stated that the AWB may consider returning to mainstream politics once its members in custody are released.
One rightwing organisation that will definitely not take part in any election is Jaap Marais’ Herstigte Nasionale Party. While it is keeping track of developments, the HNP is adamant its members will not be found on any voters’ list.
There has been growing confusion among CP rank and file about participation in the official elections since CP leader Ferdi Hartzenberg first announced the party’s decision to do so. This prompted Louis Stofberg, chairman of the party’s information committee, to react in this week’s Patriot. He denied there was a split looming as a result of the party’s decision to participate. Members who do not want to be part of the CP’s election campaign will continue “with other work in the party”, he added.
Stofberg denied rumours that the CP will run a parallel election to the official elections, but said it believes a volksverkiesing should be held immediately afterwards to “confirm that the current system is not
The reluctance of many traditional CP supporters to participate in the Ocober polls, particularly after they abstained during the April 1994 elections, is nevertheless creating some apprehension inside the ranks. It is argued that the CP’s potential strength will be split between voters and non-voters, and that this will give Constand Viljoen’s Freedom Front an unfair advantage in the battle for rightwing supremacy. And it seems that these fears are not ill-founded: the first voter registration forms many Pretoria dwellers have seen were delivered to their addresses by the Freedom Front.