Controversial legislation which provides the framework for next year's general elections, but effectively disenfranchising ordinary South Africans temporarily abroad, was adopted by the National Assembly on Friday.

During a sometimes acrimonious debate on the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill, Sakkie Pretorius of the Democratic Alliance criticised the ANC for making an about turn on the issue after the home affairs portfolio committee unanimously agreed last week to allow certain categories of South African citizens temporarily abroad to vote.

The ANC brought a last minute amendment this week allowing only state employees and their households abroad to vote.

Pretorius said this was the "arrogant way in which the ANC treats the constitutional rights of South Africans".

If the ANC was serious in encouraging young people abroad to return to South Africa, it should give them the opportunity to vote abroad, he said.

"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."

The only people who should not have the right to vote were South Africans who had emigrated or had taken up permanent residence abroad, Pretorius said.

The DA tabled a formal amendment proposing South Africans temporarily working and studying abroad should be entitled to vote.

Nhlahla Zulu of the Inkatha Freedom Party said his party "suffered from political hyper-tension" on hearing of the ANC's decision.

However, the IFP would still support the bill.

The New National Party also moved a formal amendment in terms of which all South Africans abroad, who had been abroad for a period of no more than five years and held a valid South African passport, should be allowed to vote.

Nevertheless, the party's Richard Pillay said the NNP would vote in favour of the bill even if its amendment was defeated.

A third amendment was proposed by Dr Corn