SA presidency slams opposition leader for leaking state info

CAPE TOWN. South Africa’s Presidency on Friday slammed opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille for leaking confidential state information. “The Presidency takes serious exception to the leaking by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille of information that arose during a confidential consultation between President Jacob Zuma, Premiers and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) yesterday to discuss election preparations,” presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said. Maharaj was referring to a tweeted message by Zille that the election date would be announced on Friday. Zuma hosted the meeting of the IEC and nine premiers on Thursday at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting. Zille, as Western Cape premier, sat at the meetings to discuss serious matters of state, Maharaj said. “She should thus respect confidentiality and not abuse the privilege and trust accorded to her by virtue of her status,” he said. Zille could not be reached for comment. South Africa will hold national and provincial elections this year, the fifth elections since the end of apartheid in 1994. The election date is yet to be announced. As a dominant political party, the ruling African National Congress (ANC), is set to win the elections with over 60 percent of the electoral support, although its popularity is declining. The DA is determined to keep the Western Cape and will try to take control of Gauteng Province, the economic hub of the country. The Electoral Commission has set the coming Saturday and Sunday as the final weekend registration for the elections. As of Thursday, overall registration stood at 24.1 million, 76. 7 percent of the estimated voting age population which, according to Statistics SA, is 31.4 million. The Electoral Commission has set itself a target of 80 percent of the voting age population on the voters’ roll by proclamation date.