Cape Town – Correctional Services Western Cape Commissioner Delekile Klaas and Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) provincial commissioner Courtney Sampson concluded their voter registration at the Pollsmoor Prison women’s section yesterday.
The IEC has undertaken the registration of offenders in 240 prisons across the country for two days ending yesterday. There are on average about 160 000 offenders, including remand detainees, in South Africa’s prisons.
Pollsmoor Prison holds more than 3 000 prisoners, 700 of which are women.
Klaas said the IEC began conducting voter education at correctional facilities since last November.
“Over the two days, the IEC has provided voter education and registered offenders; there are at any time 29900 prisoners. During this period we have emphasised to the detainees the importance of registering and voting, even if they’re no longer within the facilities during the election.”
Klaas said for first-time voters at Correctional Services were assisted by the Department of Home Affairs in helping with applications.
Since 1999 the IEC has worked closely with the Department of Correctional Services to provide voter registration and voting opportunities for inmates in line with the constitutional right extended to prisoners to vote.
Sampson said: “It is not easy spending time in these facilities, neither should it be, but the rights of each citizen of this country is that they can participate in the democratic process and cast their vote. We therefore ensure that these citizens are registered.”
Awaiting-trial prisoner Liezel Johnson, 32, from Lavender Hill, said she had never before registered.
“I believe my vote is important and that I should vote if I want change.
“The youth out there, who may feel different, should take it from me, your vote is your voice so use it.”
Natasha Banda, 35, from Bishop Lavis, said as a mother-of-five her vote means hope for a better future for them, as poverty and desperation brought her to where she was now.