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South Africans abroad can vote

2009-02-09 12:05

Pretoria - South Africans abroad have been granted the right to vote in the country's upcoming elections.

The Pretoria High Court ruled in an urgent application that a portion of the Electoral Act be declared unconstitutional, the SABC reported. This relates to the portion which prevented South African citizens who are living and working abroad from voting.

Section 33.1-E of the Electoral Act was found invalid in terms of limiting the casting of special votes to people who are temporarily out of the country.

According to the SABC, the Freedom Front Plus brought the application on behalf of a South African teacher, Willem Richter, who works in the UK.

- News24


Reality 2/9/2009 12:12:51 PM
Some good news today, excellent...All you people abroad better make the effort to save SA...

Krulkop 2/9/2009 12:14:51 PM
Well done Freedomfront. What does the goverment think of themself? They can do what ever they think is fit TO SUIT themself and can get away with it. TAKE IT ON THE CHIN

Hans 2/9/2009 12:15:55 PM
This doesnt mean anything. This case will be dragged through the courts and by that time it will be to late

Jameel 2/9/2009 12:16:39 PM
I and my wife will be casting our votes in London, and ANC I can assure you, it wont be for you. I am delighted that once again the inept government of the day with their IEC cronies have been given the middle finger. I would humbly suggest that all the opposition parties for an alliance or merge in order to be a true opposition to the ANC.

Quyn 2/9/2009 12:17:11 PM
Thank goodness ordinary common sense and everyday human rights prevailed. I really felt ashamed that I'm a citizen of a country where convicted felons had the right to vote but not South Africans living abroad. Somebody clearly saw sense, even if belatedly. That it was even in doubt was amazing in the first place.

Stroobz 2/9/2009 12:17:20 PM
finally something free and fair... this will undoubtebly help the cause of those who fight the corrupt ANC! one day we might be able to return because of this. there might yet be hope on the horizon! Viva change!

Dave 2/9/2009 12:17:52 PM
As far as I know expats of just about every other country can vote while living & working abroad, so I have never understood why it was for so long a different case for South African expats??? I'm a South African expat in Ireland and before I felt like some kind of second-class citizen as I could not vote! I have long held the belief that this was the intention of the ANC to prevent predominantly white expats from voting. Well lets see now...

Mike's Mechanic 2/9/2009 12:18:14 PM
Hahahahahahaha. It's about time! Don't know what the government was so worried about anyway. If the ANC still win, even with the votes from people overseas, then they get to throw it in the oppositions face. At the end of the day, it's now a free and fair election. May the best party win!

Juan 2/9/2009 12:18:22 PM
GOOD!! If convicted rapists and murderers can vote, then SA citisens abroad should ALSO be able to vote! Its just VERY worrying that the IEC follows an anc stance on this. CLEARLY they are not independent if the act unconstitutional! TYPICAL AFRICA

Mendjos 2/9/2009 12:18:43 PM
it is fine, they should vote!!!

Pete 2/9/2009 12:18:47 PM
Finally, some justice and sense prevails! Let us hope that all those South Africans living abroad will grasp this opportunity with both hands. Let us follow Obama's example.... VOTE FOR CHANGE!!

Lerato 2/9/2009 12:20:11 PM
It is a right for every South African Citizen to cast a vote regardless of their whereabouts.

Good news 2/9/2009 12:20:41 PM
SA's democracy needed this boost. Good decision.

Michael 2/9/2009 12:23:03 PM
Forward South African democracy. If this is true then Viva Willem Richter and Freeom Front Plus. I'm a South African teacher in Korea why should we be denied our constitutional rights? We remit monies home contributing to the foreign exchange reserves hopefully, lessening the burden on the state in being productive citizens and responsible for our dependents back home. This should not be necessary to qualify our civil political rights. Political affiliationn is of no consequence in this regard.

So what? 2/9/2009 12:23:43 PM
ANC LEADS ANC LIVES BRING IT ON! EVEN THOSE ABROAD WILL VOTE FOR THE ANC, FINISH AND KLAAR!

Barry 2/9/2009 12:23:51 PM
Don't be so negative Hans. We should appreciate the fact that fellow South Africans living abroad have been given this opportunity. This could very well be the saving grace for all of us, no matter what colour we are.

tHe Joker 2/9/2009 12:23:51 PM
One more step towards a truly democratic process. Viva, Pretoria High Court, VIVA!

Annoniem 2/9/2009 12:24:46 PM
net jammer die geleentheid om te registreer is verby - tydsberakening?

Thembalabantubonke 2/9/2009 12:24:56 PM
Many of those who want to vote have been overseas for quite some timer. Those there temporarily are already catered for.

damneddutch 2/9/2009 12:25:21 PM
Absolutely brilliant!!

Y 2/9/2009 12:26:20 PM
Absolutely fantastic news!!!!! It appears that the world might just become a better place:-) CTK? Anyone else? What race card will you pull this time?

Jacob Zuma 2/9/2009 12:26:37 PM
We salute the FF+ for having the courage to take this matter foward and it was really wise of the Pretoria Court to grant expat the right to vote..Come election time I will be voting, from Germany, for my political party.....DA

Anne-Marie Matthee 2/9/2009 12:26:59 PM
I am so happy about this, as it is unfortunately true that most white south africans are abroad because of being discriminated against for being white in SA. If we get a president (no matter what creed or color) that is for all the people, most people would return to SA

Jandre 2/9/2009 12:27:48 PM
This is good news for overseas voters. This is the first real democratic election SA has seen. Lets all work together to break this one party country and put a real opposition party in place.

Love SA 2/9/2009 12:28:17 PM
Permanent residents are taxpayers, they should be given the vote too.

Don 2/9/2009 12:28:32 PM
Does anyone have any idea if this decision is going to be appealed?

Y 2/9/2009 12:30:38 PM
Am I missing something?

Johann 2/9/2009 12:33:12 PM
Waar moet ek my op sit vir die temming as ek wwil stem maar in sudan sit se my asb

Cra 2/9/2009 12:33:49 PM
perhaps now we can all make a difference from abroad!!!! question is, how do we vote from abroad???

Fraud 2/9/2009 12:34:13 PM
"TYPICAL AFRICA"..what does that supposed to mean? You ppl fight so hard for those who have no love for the country to vote in a African country, and an African judge grants you your wish...so once again, what do you mean sir?

jackey 2/9/2009 12:34:34 PM
Victory @ last for our citizens abroad !!!! Hope ANC doesnt challenge this ruling as now they know that panic & reality will set in !!!! There is HOPE after all ...

Lee 2/9/2009 12:34:55 PM
All of your passion is encouraging...wonder if most expats share these sentiments...?

Achmed the Dead Terrorist 2/9/2009 12:35:13 PM
I love the fact that people abroad can vote but CTK, Kolobunny, and the malemites will have someting to say. But Hell with them lets save SA from the hands of greedy

Steph 2/9/2009 12:39:57 PM
How will this be possible if voter registration closed this weekend?

Ethan 2/9/2009 12:40:27 PM
I hope they all go and vote. I am sure this is not good news for the ruling party.

Willem 2/9/2009 12:41:40 PM
The only time the Freedom Front plus features is just before the election. Please remember them as they need a cosy job doing nothing until next election. Many years between elections to think about something to impress voters. FF is not needed anymore as they are useless. I have taken many ideas to them. All of them are old and have no energy to do anything for you. My vote you will not get.

manamzo 2/9/2009 12:42:24 PM
Did I hear someone saying ''counter revolutionary''. This is victory for every citizen of SA except those who wanted to bar these fellow citizen who went to overseas mostly because the ruling party failed them. They knew most people who have left wont vote this ruling party.

Vision 2/9/2009 12:47:31 PM
Hopefully only the ones on contract and who are planning on returning

jka 2/9/2009 12:49:13 PM
Fantastic news and 100% as it should be, but how will the IEC get the systems in place to a) register voters over seas and b) collect their votes before April??

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