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Voting (Shayne Robinson, Sapa)
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Johannesburg - The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said it was ready to accommodate registered voters living overseas, following Thursday's Constitutional Court judgment on the matter.
"All we have to look at now is the numbers we are talking about," said chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula after the judgment in Johannesburg.
In two judgments, the court ruled that all registered voters living overseas can vote for national assembly representation on April 22 provided they notify the commission of their intention by March 27.
But, the court did not support an application to allow registration overseas, nor a vote for provincial representation.
"We are relieved this is over," said Tlakula.
"There is certainty on the matter and we will able to start preparing for overseas votes."
Contingency plans
About 5 000 people had already notified the commission of their intention to vote.
"We expect the numbers will maybe double or more."
She was relieved the court only ruled for registered voters.
The commission always planned for a "worst case scenario" and had previously had to provide three million extra ballot papers in a last minute court success by the African Christian Democratic Party in a previous election.
"We had some contingency plans so it wasn't a problem for us."
Willie Spies, lawyer for Pretoria teacher Willem Richter who got the Pretoria High Court to support his bid to vote while he works in the UK, said he was very pleased with the judgment.
"His mother (Richter's) is here and she will probably SMS him straight away," said Spies.
"We got exactly what we asked for."
Anthony Penderis of the A-Party, who had hoped to get unregistered voters the right to register abroad, said the right to vote while abroad was a democratic success and they would work on the overseas registration.
Afriforum's Kallie Kriel said they would now concentrate on getting the overseas registered voters to get in touch with the IEC before the March deadline.
Right to vote
Handing down the first of two separate judgments, Justice Kate O'Regan said the right to vote had a symbolic and democratic value and those who were registered should not be limited by unconstitutional and invalid limitations in the Electoral Act.
These had limited special votes to international sportsmen, government officials, people on temporary holidays and business trips.
A second judgment by Justice Sandile Ngcobo questioned why unregistered voters had left their court challenge so late, given that it could lead to an undesirable delay to electoral deadlines.
The limitations had been in effect since 2003 and they had not explained why they had left the matter so late, so they were denied access to the court.
He explained that the effect of the two judgments is: "South African citizens abroad and who are registered as voters will be allowed to vote. Those who are not registered will not."
- SAPA
