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African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa says they have deliberately chosen to focus their attention on Gauteng during the two IEC voter registration weekends.
At least four ANC officials are visiting several voting stations in the province to encourage people to register to vote in the coming general elections.
Ramaphosa was in Soweto on Saturday. He will be in Mamelodi on Sunday, while his deputy Paul Mashatile is spending the weekend in the Ekurhuleni metro.
Other ANC officials including Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula were in the Vaal, while his first deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane was on the West Rand.
Voter Registration | Soweto residents raise issues with ANC Pres Cyril Ramaphosa:
The ANC came close to losing Gauteng in 2019, after scooping 50,b9% of the votes. This time around, the party is taking no chances. It has pulled out all the stops, deploying four of its top officials in the province for the final weekend voter registration drive.
As the country’s economic hub and the home of three metros, as well as the seat of government the Union Buildings, the ANC says its presence in Gauteng this weekend is deliberate.
“Gauteng has 25% of our population, 15 million people so many of our voters are here in Gauteng and KZN. So we have to focus on Gauteng to get the people to register and in the election campaign of course we will be focusing on Gauteng but not to the exclusion of other provinces. I will visit them but Gauteng is the coveted jewel that everybody wants.”
After a day-long interaction with potential voters, he manages to strike the right chords.
“What I can say to youth is to take advantage of this moment to register and vote so that they can get jobs and say they once voted. At the same time, I am also excited to vote for a party that cares for us and a party that will do everything, especially for us young people because we are students and hoping for opportunity. Without us, there is no South Africa. I am feeling excited to vote for the first time and I would like to encourage other young people to vote for our future and would like to encourage more young people to vote for the ANC.”
Ramaphasa has welcomed the participation of young people in the registration drive.
“I am finding that many of the young people are registering, this is their weekend to register and fortunately the president of the ANCYL who has been travelling with me has been able to assist young people on the tens and tens of them coming to register so I think the youth reluctance to register has been washed away and young people are coming forward.”
On Sunday, the ANC president will visit voting stations in Mamelodi and the Mamelodi Hostel late in the day.
[IN PICTURES 📸] VOTER REGISTRATION DAY-ONE
It is important that you register where you will voting. Visit your nearest voting station to verify your address or to check your registration status.#RegisterToVoteANC #IamANC #ANCatWork
🖤💚💛 https://t.co/z2iaYkj7kE— Gauteng ANC #VoteANC (@GautengANC) February 3, 2024
