By Moshoeshoe Monare
The "anxious" Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will consider Plan B for possible early elections as the ANC's axe is aimed at President Thabo Mbeki this weekend.
The electoral commission's senior officials are meeting today (Thursday) for a workshop that will discuss the commission's logistical readiness in the event of early polls.
IEC chairperson Brigalia Bam told The Mercury on Wednesday that as much as the commission was planning its election preparations for April, it was worried about the political climate in the ANC.
"We are listening, we are reading, we are concerned and anxious," she said.
Bam said the commission would react to a change of electoral schedule only if parliament decided on it.
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"When parliament calls us, because they are our bosses, then we will sit with them and listen very carefully," Bam said.
The commission launched its 2009 elections logo and slogan, "To the future", at a function attended by ANC president Jacob Zuma and leaders of other parties on Wednesday.
Bam, however, said they were "ready for the minimum of seven months... a normal time provided in the constitution".
"We have systems that are permanently in place. But that does not mean that because we have those systems, we can run elections within 24 hours," she said.
Two senior electoral commission officials told The Mercury on Wednesday that for the first time the commission would consider the likelihood of an early election.
"We cannot ignore the political situation any longer. We will have to seriously consider Plan B," said one official.
But Bam raised the logistical problems.
"There are certain things that need a timeframe. For instance, printing of a ballot paper... because you must have the list coming from political parties.
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