The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has exceeded the 80% registration target it had set for registrations for the May 7 election.
IEC chairperson Pansy Tlakula says almost 1.3 million people registered for the first time over the weekend taking the number to well over 25 million registered voters.
“We are more than pleased , we are thrilled with the way South Africans and young people in particular have come out in their millions to take the opportunity to register for the first time or to update their registration details. The results show that we can lay to rest any suggestion that South Africans are apathetic or blase about democracy.”
Tlakula also says during the past two registration window periods 2.3 million people registered to vote for the first time.
IEC’s chief communications officer Mosotho Moepya adds that they are optimistic more people will register to vote. “It appeared a very difficult target to set but we were steadfast, we remain with it and are optimistic that we will reach it and in fact today we can proudly announce to the nation that we’ve obtained 80.5%,” says Moepya.
The IEC has also expressed concern about violent protests countrywide. Tlakula says she hopes talks will resolve the issue. Final voter registration at the weekend was hampered in certain areas with some stations petrol bombed.
Tlakula says the IEC is in contact with political parties and police to prevent violence on voting day, May 7. Seven people appeared in court in Taung in the North West for allegedly damaging election material.– Additional reporting by Sapa
– By
