South Africans resident overseas may not vote in 2009 elections

[Dave A]

Well, the verdict is in.

South Africans abroad should be allowed to vote, the Pretoria High Court ruled on Monday.

Handing down judgement, Acting Judge Piet Ebersohn ruled that the current legislation infringed on the rights of South Africans living abroad.

The court ruled that the electoral Act "limited" the casting of votes to people temporarily living abroad. It referred the judgement to the Constitutional Court for confirmation.

The Independent Electoral Commission was also ordered to change its voting procedures so as to allow South Africans living abroad to vote.
full story from M&G here

The IEC is already making a mountain out of a molehill...

Pitso said a nod from the Constitutional Court on the ruling would mean the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) would have to ascertain how many potential voters there were in each country across the globe.

This is itself would be a "hassle", she said.

Typically embassies in foreign countries were used for citizens to cast their ballots. The IEC would have to staff voting stations set up at embassies with independent workers.

"The staff at the voting stations would have to be independent, therefore no government workers could be used, the IEC would have to send independent workers to each country.

"This will be an added burden to the taxpayer as it is very expensive to fly them and accommodate the workers ... the number of staff required in each country or city will depend on how many potential voters are in each city," she said.
full story from M&G here

What is wrong with using civil servants deployed at the embassies, for crying out loud? That's how everyone else does it. If they aren't there to represent and serve all the citizens of this country, they shouldn't be there full stop!

[Dave A]

President Kgalema Motlanthe has announced that the date for the general elections will be 22nd April 2009. However, the actual proclomation would be made later so as not to close off the voters roll just yet.

It's a Wednesday. Will it be a public holiday?

[duncan drennan]

It's a Wednesday. Will it be a public holiday?

Has been in the past, and with the Monday following that being a public holiday (Freedom day), people should start preparing for a 6 day long weekend.

[reuben]

Remember bus loads of zim's and so forth being trucked in to come and support our lovely!democracy,it is quite obvious that our leading party [DE ruler!!] is running scared,cope or any other party as that may is up for the winning,what say yea

[reuben]

But boss it's more work and not more pay ? gravy train get it boss

[Dave A]

Let's hope we don't slide to the vote-rigging level

Great! Another public holiday in the public holiday season

Amazing how you look at these things differently when you're footing the bill for paid holidays. If it's got to be a public holiday, why not run it on Freedom Day?

[reuben]

Come on boss it means more work and not more pay ,ye get it Mann ,surely you must understand we cannot allow foreigners to tell us what to do ex south Africans you dig,double talk is the correct way to go, what goes today does not really mean the same tomorrow.

[Dave A]

[duncan drennan]

If it's got to be a public holiday, why not run it on Freedom Day?

My thoughts exactly. Here is one to get your head around: if IEC workers man polling booths on a day declared a public holiday for voting do they get double pay, or only if the voting day falls on an already declared official public holiday?

[Dave A]

So the motivation for holding the election on a weekday could be to reduce overtime costs? They've been registering voters on weekends so probably not. I'd assume they're fixed contract workers as opposed to regular employees.

All this talk about how wonderful they are and how they are going to do great things for our economy and then they pull a stunt like this - right in the middle of the week. It's either all lip service or they really just don't get it. Momentum is precious!