NATIONAL ELECTIONS, 02 JUNE 1999

The Nedlac parties - government, labour, business and community - have urged all South Africans to exercise their democratic right to vote on Wednesday 2 June 1999.

In making 2 June 1999 a public holiday,government's intention was to ensure that all South Africans had an equal opportunity to cast their ballots.

According to Section 18(1) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, an employer may not require an employee to work on a public holiday except in accordance with an agreement.

Where employers and employees have entered into such agreements, we urge employers to take steps to ensure that employees have anopportunity to cast their vote on voting day. Voting stations will be open from 7am to 9pm.

Employees who wish to cast their votes near their place of work but have registered elsewhere should obtain a declaration vote certificate,on or by 31st May, from any electoral office. Electoral offices are situated at local municipality offices. Contact the IEC on its tollfree number 0800 11 8000 for more details.

Chief Electoral Officer, Mandla Mchunu, welcomed the call from Nedlac for employers and employees to work together to ensure maximum voter turnout on June 2nd.

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