Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson Pansy Tlakula says they hope to reach 2 million new voters through their registration campaign.
Tlakula was speaking in Benoni on the East Rand during the National Agricultural Sector Briefing attended by farmers and worker representatives.
The aim of the briefing was to engage the agricultural sector on the IEC’s vision and work ahead of this year’s National and Provincial elections.
Organisations attending the briefing included Agri SA, the Transvaal Agricultural Union, the Food and Allied Workers Union as well as the South African Farming and Commercial Workers Union. Tlakula says they are hoping to register as many new voters as possible.
According to Tlakula, they have so far registered over 400 000 voters in their last drive last year. She says they are encouraging young people who will be first-time voters, to register on the weekend of February 8 and 9, which will be the last phase of the voter registration campaign.
A pledge has been signed by the farming community
Agri SA’s Lette du Plessis has assured the IEC of their support during the voter registration campaign and during the elections. The sentiments were echoed by African Farmers Association’s Mike Mlengana who also adds that farm workers should not be deprived of their right to register and vote.
A pledge has also been signed by the farming community and labour unions committing themselves to give reasonable access to IEC officials to enable them to do their work on the farms. They also agreed to allow voters to vote during the elections and to give political parties space to campaign freely on their farms.
Meanwhile, the process of voter registration for South Africans living abroad is well underway in 108 countries where the country has missions. There will be 123 voting stations in those countries. President Jacob Zuma is yet to announce the date for this year’s elections.
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