The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says South Africans are showing enthusiasm on the first day of the national registration weekend.
The Electoral Commission has reported that registration got off seamlessly with over 99% of stations operational within minutes of the commencement time of 8 am.
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Shiburi says, “In the initial hours of this two-day registration weekend an impressive 304 221 voters have visited voting stations nationwide. Of these 55 019 were persons who were registering for the first time. The early turnout not only sets a positive tone for the registration period but also serves as a testament that citizens remain engaged in the affairs of the country.”
Western Cape
The IEC in the Western Cape says it’s all systems go as over 4 600 IEC staff members have been deployed to all voting districts. There are over 1 500 voting districts in the province, 26 of them being temporary structures.
Provincial Electoral Officer, Michael Hendrikse, says they are satisfied with their progress so far on the first day of voter registration.
“I am pleased that there is a steady flow going, obviously we are hoping it will pick up over the rest of the day and then also tomorrow as well. We have set certain goals as an organisation, but we have long exceeded those targets. We’re clearly not worried about those targets really. But we just calling on everybody, if you are a first-time voter go out and register, make use of this opportunity or if you are registered update your details so you aren’t disappointed when you arrive at the wrong voting station this coming election.”
North West
The IEC in the North West province says 10 of its voting stations in the Bojanala District did not open on time due to community protests. The commission says 9 voting stations in the Moses Kotane local municipality were affected, and one in Rustenburg.
The province has 1 738 voting stations.
Johannesburg
In the south of Johannesburg, the voter registration weekend had a slow start. Residents at Slovo Park Informal Settlement trickled into the voting station.
The community who experienced violent protests over the past year, says they are concerned that their demand for the upgrading of the informal settlement has not been met.
Limpopo
Some people who are registering to vote for the first time say they are confident that their votes will count. One of them is Donald Lamola who registered in Sekgakgapeng, Mokopane in Limpopo. He says he is excited that he will exercise his right to vote.
“I came here to register and is for the first time. I’m happy that no long queue. I’m impressed by the fact I have seen more young potential voters registering. I wasn’t voting in the past elections because I thought it was not important now I have realised that my vote is important. My vote can make a change.”
