Cape Town, Sept 27: South Africa's Parliament on Friday adopted a controversial election bill that excludes citizens living abroad from voting in general elections next year.
The Electoral Laws Amendment Bill was adopted after a last-minute change that effectively bars any South African abroad from voting in elections, expected to be held during the first half of 2004.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) supported the withdrawal of a clause to the bill, which was approved by the National Assembly's home affairs committee last Friday.
The clause would have allowed special votes to students, businessmen, travellers, and citizens temporarily
out of the country to vote.
A spokesman for the main opposition Democratic Alliance, Sakkie Pretorius, said if the ANC were serious
about addressing the "worrying trend of young people living abroad temporarily", the party should allow them to vote.
"There is no logical reason why the ANC and the government should in any way limit a person who is abroad
temporarily in regard to his or her right to vote," Pretorius said.
He added that the only ones who had given up that right were South Africans who had emigrated or had taken up permanent residence abroad, said a news agency report.
Bureau Report
