"The Freedom Front Plus, will in terms of section 30 of the Electoral Act, submit written objections to the Independent Electoral Commission against the candidature of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela on the national list of the ANC. The FF Plus is of the opinion that Madikizela-Mandela does not qualify in terms of section 47(1)(e) of the Constitution (108 of 1996). The section clearly determines  that anybody found guilty of a crime and is given a prison sentence of at least 12 months without the option of a fine, does not qualify to be a member of the National Assembly", Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), chairperson of the Federal Legal Committee of the Freedom Front Plus says.

"The relevant section determines that the disqualification ends only five years after a sentence is served. Madikizela-Mandela was found guilty in June 2004 and sentenced to three and a half years without the option of a fine and the five years will only run to an end in July of this year. The complaint will, as is required by the Electoral Act, be submitted to the ANC and the Independent Electoral Committee", Groenewald said.

Statement issued by Pieter Groenewald MP, chairperson of the Freedom Front Plus federal legal committee, March 16 2009

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