IEC ready to take on prisons

2004-03-08 20:58

Johannesburg - The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will register eligible prisoners for the April 14 election as from Wednesday, the Department of Correctional Services announced on Monday.

The department and the IEC held a meeting on Monday to discuss last week's Constitutional Court ruling that made provision for all categories of prisoners to vote, department spokesman Maupi Monyemangene said.

"The registration of prisoners will take place on March 10, 11 and 12. The department of correctional services has reiterated its readiness to facilitate the registration of prisoners," he said.

The Constitutional Court heard an application last month by the SA Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (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 in the April 14 election. The IEC was ready to register eligible voters and all systems would be in place to facilitate voting.

"Only prisoners in possession of bar-coded identity documents will be able to register to vote," Monyemangene said.

- SAPA