ANC dismisses early elections rumours

The ANC has dismissed speculations of an early election in the country

The ANC has dismissed speculation of an early election. This follows rumours that it wants to shut Parliament early this year and have it sit for only 15 days in the last quarter of the year.

Work on about 90 bills is currently outstanding, but the ANC insists it will have enough time. ANC caucus spokesperson Khotso Khumalo says: "There is no change in the programme and there's no abrogation of Parliament procedures of cutting the programme short. The programme is in tact as it is."

Khumalo says outstanding bills will not be steamrolled through Parliament. This includes legislation on incorporating the Scorpions into the SAPS.

"We will not cut corners. If we must convene public hearings, we will do that. If it means we must meet with the people we will do that. If it means we must sit till late in the evening and work through them we'll do that."

DA opposes the move
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is against this move, saying the ruling party wants more time to put its house in order.

"They want to shut down Parliament to make sure that they can go back into their own constituency to defend their turf and that's fine. We'll next meet them head on," says the DA's chief whip. Other opposition parties say this will give them an opportunity to make inroads before the elections next year.

Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has dismissed the DA's objection as a publicity stunt. IFP spokesperson on Finance Hennie Bekker says: "If the DA is against this and their making a lot of noise about it its more for publicity sake, to my mind it is essential that we go to recess provided that the work is done and nothing is left behind."