organisations
12 January 2006
The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) signed an
agreement with farming organisations at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in
Pretoria on Thursday, 12 January 2006, in preparation of the 2006 Municipal
Elections. This is a follow-up on the historic agreement that was signed on 12
March 2004 for the 2004 Elections.
In her address, the Chief Electoral Officer, Adv Pansy Tlakula, thanked
farmersâ organisations for their support in ensuring that farm workers, one of
the most disadvantaged groups in society, are able to exercise the most
important right in the Constitution, namely the right to vote.
âTo date we have received considerable support from certain farmers in a
number of provinces. It included providing transport for farm workers from
various farms to central venues for events organised by the Commission and
making venues available on farms for meetings, voter registration, voter
education workshops and Election Day,â said Adv Tlakula.
Adv Tlakula said that it is true that there have been incidents where
farmers did not provide assistance and co-operation was not good. These were
among some of the challenges which remained to be addressed. She called on all
farming organisations to assist the IEC in responding to these challenges.
The agreement was signed by AGRI SA, National African Farmersâ Union, Food
and Allied Workersâ Union, the Transvaal Agricultural Union and Free State
Agriculture.
In terms of the agreement farming organisations committed themselves to
co-operation with the Commission to:
* Allow reasonable access to the Electoral Commission and its agents to farming
areas for the purpose of their work, in particular voter registration and voter
education.
* Allow voters to attend political rallies at public amenities for canvassing
purposes by political parties.
* Allow reasonable access to the Electoral Commission and its agents to use
designated places as registration and voting stations where appropriate.
* Allow voters time off to register and vote.
* Ensure that visits to farms will take place in accordance with protocol for
access to farms.
For media enquiries please contact: Lydia Young
Cell: 082 650 8652
Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
12 January 2006
