SAPOHR have over the many years since the dawn our first democratic elections, notice how both the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Correctional Services and the Independent Electoral Commission, lost interest in making sure that both Un/Sentenced Prisoner, in detention or incarcerated, must find it very difficult to register in order to cast their votes for any political party, besides the ANC.

Hence the reluctances to make proper preparations in advance, regardless of endless irritations by the South African Prisoners Organization (SAPOHR), over the years.

These are self-made human errors, obstacles and problems, and could be overcome as suggested above here:

hereby urgently call upon your good office to give directives to ALL your Management Areas, country-wide to compile a list of both Un-Sentenced and Sentenced Prisoners, who are interested to cast their votes, in accordance 

Section 19 of the 1996 Constitution, which reads thus:

“(1) Every citizen is free to make political choices, which includes the right-

To form a political party:

To participate in the activities of, or recruit members for, a political party,

and

To campaigning for a political party or cause.

Human Rights Abuse is a Universal Crime 

But couldn’t register, because their either did not have their ID’s documents with them or couldn’t because they could not afford the R120.00, required by the Department of Home Affairs.

SAPOHR remain of the opinion that the Department of Correctional Services would not have a challenge in compiling such list, since the Prisoners are stationary and are willing to follow suite to this end. 

SAPOHR would highly appreciate your co-operation to do this over the weekend of the 02-03 March 2019,since this matter is absolutely urgent.

 

Issued by The South African Prisoners' Organization For Human Rights