Prisons a no-go for DA
2004-03-04 18:04
The Democratic Alliance is refusing to campaign for the April 14 election in South Africa's prisons as a matter of principle, DA chief election spokesperson Douglas Gibson said on Thursday.
In a speech prepared for delivery during a debate at the Witwatersrand University law school, he said the DA respected the interpretation of the Constitutional Court on this issue.
However, the DA believed it was wrong that rapists, murderers and other prisoners guilty of serious crimes should have the right to vote.
"This is especially so, when it is considered that the ANC has connived to prevent tens of thousands of South Africans who are temporarily overseas from voting.
"What an odd country South Africa is: the law abiding do not have a vote, and murderers and rapists do.
"Therefore the DA will not campaign in prisons. We challenge other political parties to follow our lead," Gibson said.
- SAPA