/ 24 October 1999

MBEKI GIVEN IEC’s ELECTION ATLAS

PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki received a copy of the Independent Electoral Commission’s atlas of 1999 election results on Friday. The 228-page atlas is made up of a number of maps detailing the results of the June elections. It will set you back R10000 a piece. At a lunch to mark the launch of the document, Mbeki defended its price, which was earlier criticised by Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Buthelezi expressed concern that the cost of the atlas would reduce its usefulness. Mbeki said that he thought the price was “actually a bit low”. He said political parties will find it useful because it details their support base. It will also boost public access to information, a key element of good governance, Mbeki said.