ANC to Whip in Abortion Changes

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Cape Town - The ruling African National Congress (ANC) yesterday ordered its MPs to vote in favour of changing South Africa's abortion laws from among the world's strictest to among the most liberal.

All opposition parties in parliament have decided to allow their MPs to vote on the abortion bill according to conscience and religious beliefs, but the majority ANC needs a party vote to guarantee adoption of the pro- choice legislation.

"We are calling on all ANC MPs to come to the vote, and the whips {in parliament} will be on their backs to check that - not only that they are there, but that they vote positively," said Arnold Stofile, ANC chief whip in the …