A remark made by Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi during his budget vote in the National Assembly on Monday has sparked speculation that an early election could be called next year.
Buthelezi who presented his department’s budget vote said: “As this might be my last budget speech as Minister of Home Affairs I wish to place on record that my honour has been that of serving the State and the people of South Africa and I hope that what I have to say today will highlight it.”
Sources close to the minister said that he was not about to leave office — as was regularly speculated — but that this could be the last budget vote before the next election.
Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said no decision had been taken on the next election — which must be called by the president. However, government sources indicated that an election could only be held once the budget for the 2004/05 financial year had been passed by Parliament.
Cabinet representative Joel Netshitenzhe was not immediately available for comment.
Departmental budget votes, however, could wait until after an election — which means that the newly appointed minister would present the next home affairs budget vote. Whether that was Buthelezi, who is leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party, would depend on the election results and the discretion of the president — who himself would be elected by the National Assembly after the next election.
In terms of the Constitution the National Assembly is elected for a five- year term. The president by proclamation must call and set dates for an election which must be held within 90 days of the date the Assembly is dissolved or its term expires.
The last national election was held on June 9 1999. This means an election could be held as early as March next year — as it is unlikely that a majority of the National Assembly would back an earlier dissolution before then.
That means that Members of Parliament (MPs) could hit the campaign trail shortly after a February budget next year.
Notably, Buthelezi referred to the fact that the number of applications for identity documents was likely to rise to about 20 000 a day “as the elections draw closer”.
“… currently the department has the capacity to deal with about 8 000 applications a day with a turnaround time of two months”. – I-Net Bridge