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Madiba 'paved way for blind'

THE SA National Council for the Blind thanked former president Nelson Mandela yesterday for his part in paving the way for the blind to cast their vote in secret.

THE SA National Council for the Blind thanked former president Nelson Mandela yesterday for his part in paving the way for the blind to cast their vote in secret.

"Nelson Mandela also paved the way for blind and partially sighted people to exercise our full citizenship rights in many ways, including the exercise of a secret ballot," said Hazel Marshall, the council's honorary vice-president.

The council explained that the April 2009 election was the first to offer a Braille ballot paper so voters could make their choice in secret.

The council said it was through Mandela that "all of us can live, experience and thrive through democracy. This democracy entails the undeniable right to exercise our full citizenship." - Sapa

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