The ANC has received with delight the news of the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of the NNP and DP’s challenge to the Electoral Act’s prescription that only bar-coded IDs be used for the 1999 election.
The ANC has always maintained as the Constitutional Court found that “the documentary requirements prescribed by the Electoral Act did not infringe the Constitution”.
The reasons for the ruling of the Constitutional Court best explain the rational of the legislators in prescribing that only bar-coded IDs be used for the election. In explaining the ruling the Constitutional Court said: “First, the presence of the bar-code, and the fact that only one document is involved, allowed for quick and efficient verification of the holder’s details. Secondly, there was a record of the fingerprints of bar-coded identity documents holders which would help prevent electoral fraud. Thirdly, (and which the Constitutional Court found to be significant) was that other forms of identity documents were issued on a racial basis and it was a legacy of South Africa’s history of racial discrimination.
The ANC has on many occasions stated and reiterated these as the main reasons for the Electoral Act’s prescription that only bar-coded IDs be used for the election. The two parties failed to hear the ANC but the message of the ANC permeated through the Constitutional Court, and the voice of the Court was loud and clear for the them to hear.
It appears the NNP and the DP are so determined to oppose everything that is intended at ensuring that the elections are free of any fraud. Their conduct is contrary to the claim they make that they are acting in the interest of South Africans who did not have the required documents. Their action seem to have been only motivated by their desire to create anarchy.
Now that the Constitutional Court has confirmed the constitutionality of the Electoral Act’s prescription of the use of only bar-coded for the elections, all South Africans should concentrate on preparations for the election.
The IEC has released the provisional voter’s roll to enable registered voters to check their details before the voter’s roll is finalised. The ANC, as was the case during the voter registration period, is deploying all its members, led by its President Thabo Mbeki to all communities to assist registered voters in checking their details on the provisional voter’s roll.
By Smuts Ngonyama
Head of ANC Department of Information and Publicity
For further information contact Thabo Masebe at 082 551 4945
13 April 1999