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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System --------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 05 Mar 2003 Title: Parliament's 400 seats to be retained, says Cabinet --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- By David Masango, Tel: (012) 314 2230 Parliament's 400 seats to be retained, says Cabinet The present composition of the 400 seats in parliament will be retained and the current electoral system will also apply for the 2004 elections. Cabinet said this today, after considering the report by the Electoral Task Team, which was chaired by Dr Frederick van Zyl Slabbert to formulate parameters for new electoral legislation in the country. Cabinet said home affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi would release the report to the public next week, to facilitate continuing public engagements on these matters. Cabinet also said the government that would be elected after 2004 would review the report in preparation for the 2009 elections. It further explained that relevant legislation would be processed urgently for the 2004 elections Early last year, President Thabo Mbeki instituted this task team to conduct a nation-wide survey in an attempt to determine public opinion on the most preferred type of electoral system. In the previous two national elections in 1994 and 1999, an electoral system of proportional representation was adopted but a new one had to be enacted for next year's elections as the latter was only meant for the first two elections. Last year, Dr Van Zyl Slabbert said the task team would formulate a framework upon which legislation could be passed - establishing what would become the electoral system of the country from the 2004 elections. With regard to next year's elections, minister Buthelezi has said the department has made necessary arrangements to assist eligible voters who are still not in possession of bar-coded identity documents to obtain them in time for voter registration. 'An urgent appeal is made to all such persons not to delay their applications to the last moment,' he pleaded. -BuaNews |
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