The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it is pleased with how Day 1 of the registration weekend went. Thousands of potential voters visited voting stations across the country to register to vote in the upcoming local government elections to be held in November this year.
The IEC says at close of registration on Saturday, a total number of 488 670 had registered at our 23 151 voting stations for the forthcoming municipal elections.
And on Sunday, it expects more people to take advantage of this opportunity and register to vote.
The IEC has also appealed to South Africans to also use the online registration tool, which will be open until midnight on Monday.
The IEC admits that there were a few glitches at some voting stations today, but that will be sorted out on Sunday as the registration period continues.
LGE 2021 | Voter registration weekend wrap-Day 1:
The IEC in KwaZulu-Natal says community protests resulted in three voting stations being closed for the entire day on Saturday. The affected voting stations are in Msunduzi municipality’s Ward 15.
IEC KZN Electoral Operations Manager Ntombifuthi Masinga says they were not able to open and operate on the first day of the voter registration.
The Electoral Commission in the North West says it’s hoping that Sunday’s voter registration process will not be disrupted like it was on Saturday.
Eight registration stations in the province did not open, due to protests. This as residents were protesting against poor service delivery.
IEC officials were barred from entering voter registration stations.
At some stations, police had to intervene.
LGE 2021 | Some stations closed due to service delivery issues in the North West: IEC
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa has registered his name on the IEC voters list in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. Holomisa has urged people to vote wisely if they want to end fraud and corruption in the OR Tambo Region.
He says the ruling party should not use the past apartheid government as an excuse when they fail to deliver.
Holomisa says the level of poverty, unemployment and inequality is propelled by corrupt activities even at the local sphere of government.
“That is precisely why because at OR Tambo District Municipality, you ended up having two mayors and two speakers from the ruling party in this country. That chaos must never happen again. So, the voters of te OR Tambo region must make sure that they spread the power amongst the political party that will be participating here.”
