Is it Universal Suffrage ?

[coolio24]

Do we have universal suffrage in South Africa as outlined in the constitution, prisoners can vote, but people who have emigrated, but still hold South African citizenship, are not allowed to vote, many of whom still have property or business interests in the country.

The constitution says that every citizen should be allowed to vote, but according to the electoral act, you have to register where you live and this leaves out people who have emigrated

If you are on holiday, on duty, or travelling for sport you can cast a special vote, surely this can be extended to people who are living outside the country, I know many who intend to eventually return to the country, and many more who have property and business interests in the country, and therefore deserve the right to have a say in who governs

 

[kilps]

http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=727 provides some interesting analysis about this - sounds like a court challenge to this could succeed.

 

[Moederloos]

The "opposition parties" need to take this to the Con Court.
Every single person abroad is probably anti-ANC.

 

[coolio24]

After reading constitutionally speaking - i am even more flabbergasted, why are opposition parties not challenging this - the Freedom Front challenged them to allow people who are temporarily out of the country to vote, the ANC eventually agreed with them, and this is in the electoral act, but very specific provisions are required - why nit challenge it ? or is our opposition sleeping ?

 

[kilps]

I doubt the DA would want to be the ones challenging it - smear material for the ANC. Either one of the smaller parties should or someone who is actually living overseas - I'm sure one of them could afford it...

 

[coolio24]

Iheard that Helen Zille is questioning it, wants a meeting with the IEC ; looking for a link - heard on radio

 

[coolio24]

I wonder if the opposition reads mybroadband, it seems now that both the FF+ and the DA are calling for expats to be allowed to vote

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

yep, just read about it ..... good for them, challenge it big time.

 

[Roy Munson]

Shame man, these poor people are already deprived of Mrs Ball's, All Gold and all sorts of things, they deserve to at least get to vote. What a cruel, cruel world we live in.

 

[USZA]

Just from a logical point-of-view, if you leave this country for another country, why would you/do you want to vote in this country's elections?

 

[coolio24]

Well, there are many people who leave with the intention of returning some day, and then there are others who still have businesses or property in the country, and almost always they still have family in the country, I think they deserve the right to have a say in who runs a country, they have so much invested in

 

[USZA]

Well, there are many people who leave with the intention of returning some day,

I'm reading/interpreting this as, looking whether the situation is going to improve before they come back. Funny, some of us either choose or are forced to live with the situation - no sympathy for them there.

and then there are others who still have businesses or property in the country,

So, it's about money now? It's like saying, I want to vote because I've invested money into this country. By that token, why don't we let foreign investors also have a vote?

and almost always they still have family in the country, I think they deserve the right to have a say in who runs a country, they have so much invested in

Once again, the money issue rears it's head; this is a country, not a corporation - if it was, then I'd feel sorry for the poor people who didn't have the money to invest.

Aside from the points stated above, it looks as if we're fighting for people who is not even fighting for their own rights - please show me where foreign South African nationals have put up a fight for this right; hell, I might even join them. But here we have locals, fighting for the rights of foreign nationals who couldn't give two ticks about what happens in this country. And, even if they had the right to vote, they still wouldn't use it ( see previous sentence).

 

[coolio24]

The civil rights initiative AfriForum has just launched a campaign to lobby for the right of South African citizens abroad to participate in the general election of 2009. As part of the campaign, an urgent appeal has been sent to Dr Brigalia Bam, Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to ensure that this right will be respected and implemented. A petition will also be circulated amongst South Africans abroad that AfriForum has contact with by means of its Come Home Campaign, in order that South Africans can add their voices to that of AfriForum to demand this right.

You can sign a petition

Afriforum

or

comehome