Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille has called on President Thabo Mbeki to make an announcement on the national and provincial election date.
But a spokesperson for the presidency, Bheki Khumalo, speaking from the Democratic Republic of the Congo said it was the president’s ”prerogative” to call the election. He said he had no idea when this announcement would be made.
The president could use the State of the Nation speech at the opening of parliament on Friday, February 6, to make the announcement.
But De Lille, who established her new party last year — and which is preparing to enter both national and provincial contests — said the ruling party, the African National Congress, ”should stop abusing its position as the incumbent party in the run up to the election.”
”The ANC is playing a destructive game of hide-and-seek with our country’s democracy. Given the high level of voter apathy in the country, it is unwarranted for President Mbeki to hold back the date for the election while launching the ANC’s campaign.”
The ANC launched its campaign in Pietermaritzburg at the weekend.
”It is unacceptable for other political parties to plan in a vacuum until he discloses the date. Not only political parties, but businesses and the public, need to plan around the dates. The ANC is taking unfair advantage of the electorate.”
”By withholding the date until after he has announced the ANC manifesto on the SABC, the president has deliberately circumvented the legislation that was put in place to ensure a fair election.”
”The Independent Democrats call on President Mbeki to consider the university holidays when he announces the election date since the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission) has registered students to vote at their place of study.”
De Lille says, ”We will not accept any diminishing of the voice of the country’s youth – their political involvement is crucial to the future of South Africa’s democracy.” – I-Net Bridge