Nicro pleased with vote ruling
2004-03-03 13:34
Johannesburg - The Constitutional Court has restored prisoners' rights and showed they are "full citizens", the SA Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (Nicro) said on Wednesday.
Nicro's comment follows the court ruling that prisoners sentenced without the option of a fine should be allowed to vote in the general election in April.
"We are very pleased with the ruling on behalf of Nicro and its stakeholders," Nicro spokesperson Lukas Muntingh said.
"The Constitutional Court has restored prisoners' rights."
Muntingh encouraged all prisoners to register for the upcoming elections and exercise their right to vote.
Last month the court heard an application by Nicro and two prisoners serving sentences without an option of a fine.
They argued that an amendment to the Electoral Act promulgated in December 2003 violated two constitutional rights of prisoners: the right to vote and the right to equality.
Under the Electoral Laws Amendment Act, only prisoners awaiting trial and prisoners given the option of paying a fine are allowed to vote.
- SAPA