DA SPOKESPERSON ON CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
IEC’s preferential treatment of prisoners: DA calls for common sense to prevail
Release, immediate: Sunday, 18 January 2009
The Democratic Alliance (DA) finds it completely unacceptable that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) plans to roll out the red carpet for South Africa's prisoners, while simultaneously ignoring the urgent need to launch registration drives at schools and universities. The fact that prisoners receive such preferential treatment – even while South Africans working and living overseas are barred from voting – is an unacceptably inequitable state of affairs, and warrants urgent attention.
Details we have received from the IEC indicate that five days in February have been earmarked for a massive voter registration drive in 40 Western Cape prisons. At least two IEC representatives have been allocated per 1000 prisoners, as well as officials from Home Affairs who will be on hand to provide ID and other documentation to prisoners, affording prisoners a level of service that law abiding South Africans could never dream of receiving. There are also reportedly plans to to hold extensive voter education campaigns in these prisons. This will no doubt be followed by a similar campaign nationwide.
We believe that this programme is evidence of hopelessly skewed priorities. All available resources must be focused on ensuring that law-abiding citizens, ranging from a focus on schools and universities, to old-age homes are given every chance to register to vote and the needs of these citizens must out of necessity take precendence over the rights of prisoners. The IEC cannot prioritise the rights of prisoners over ordinary citizens, and the DA calls for common sense to prevail, and renewed emphasis to be placed on empowering potential voters from our country's educational institutions, retirement homes and healthcare centres, as well as South Africans working and living overseas.
Media enquiries:
James Selfe MP – 082 556 0252
Frits de Klerk – 082 320 1890
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The PE South west constituency ended 2008 with a final constituency meeting at the Moth Shellhole in Kragga Kamma on 6 December 2009.
Our constituency MPL Bobby Stevenson sporting the new DA logo in the left of the picture.
The year ended of on a very positive note with words of encouragement that our constituency will bring out the DA vote in large numbers and that our support base is strong and unwavering. The meeting was ended with a lovely braai.
The Ward 39 team wishes to thank Kenny (venue and Bar), David (COM) and Lisa (COM assistant) for their time and effort in hosting us at the Shellhole.
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Dear Friend,
Even though you’re living abroad you can still make a difference back home.
2009 is a big year for South Africa.
The ANC has split. ANC majorities at provincial and local level are no longer a given. Coalition governments are the way of the future, like the one the DA has pioneered in Cape Town. Therefore, a vote for the DA is a vote for a government that can and will deliver on our promise of the South African dream. With your support, we can govern at provincial level in 2009, municipal level in 2011 and national level in 2014, with the same success we have had in Cape Town.
To vote is your right.
We realise that there are thousands of South Africans abroad who would like to vote in this year’s national election. For this reason, the DA is currently in the process of obtaining legal advice on this issue and depending on the content of that advice, will seriously consider going to court to ensure that South African citizens abroad may vote in election 2009. More news will follow soon.
Make a contribution.
We would like to invite you to join our Global Contribute to Change Network through which we will keep you informed of what is going on back home and show you ways that you can become involved and contribute.
As a first step of contribution and in order to reach as many South Africans as possible, please share this email with as many of your South African friends and contacts abroad as possible and CC Marike Groenewald - marikeg@da.org.za – on the email.
With your help, the DA is committed to delivering the South African dream of “one nation with one future”, living together under the constitution in peace, security and prosperity, with opportunity and recognition for all the rainbow people. We need you, along with every other South African living abroad, to add your voice to the growing group of people who are keen to see positive change in South Africa and who are committed to contributing to it.
Kind regards,
Helen Zille
Even if you are not currently living abroad, you probably know people who are. Please share this letter with as many of your South African friends and contacts who are living abroad as possible and ‘cc’ marikeg@da.org.za.
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