Those who have not registered to vote in the May general elections only have a short while to do so before the final voter registration weekend closes. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has appealed to all South Africans, especially the youth to take advantage of this opportunity in order to exercise their democratic right.
Different political parties have been engaging with communities to encourage them to register. African National Congress (ANC) Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile visited the Revelations Church of God in Joubert Park in the Johannesburg CBD on Sunday.
“Our message was simple, we’re reminding everybody to go and register, so that they’re able to vote when we have the elections in May. We know that since yesterday (Saturday) the IEC has opened voting stations for people to register, so we have reminded the congregants here that they must go and register when they finish at the church, those who haven’t done so.”
Meanwhile, the IEC in the Eastern Cape says the majority of the registration stations that were closed in the embattled Amahlathi Local Municipality have been opened. Only three stations remain closed in the area.
Residents of Amahlathi have allegedly boycotted the registration process accusing the ruling party of failing to provide them with quality service delivery. They also want the ANC to resolve leadership issues in the municipality.
IEC Provincial Electoral Chairperson Khayakazi Magudumana says a small number of people visited their voting station in the area. “We are having a very low turnout in Stutterheim, we have done our part as the IEC and now we are have opened the station and we are told that there are stations where there has not been registrations from yesterday (Saturday) morning.”
Magudumana also says they have encountered challenges in other parts of the province. “We have various challenges in different municipalities, those municipalities include KSD where 13 stations did not close due protests and our staff threatened. We had stations Port St Johns and in Chris Hani and four stations did not close in Chris Hani.”
In Limpopo the IEC staff has been barred from accessing a voter registration station at Ga-Seleka outside Lephalale in Limpopo. This is due to the chieftainship dispute in the area.
The community members are divided into two groups with each demanding that the government recognises their choice as a lawful chief. The chieftainship dispute within the Seleka royal family is still before the court of law.
The IEC staff has pitched a small tent outside the community hall at Ga-Seleka outside Lephalale. They were barred from using the hall as two groups fight over the chieftainship in the area.
There is small number of people who are registering and checking their details on the voters roll. Police are watching the situation. Authors- Wisani Makhubele , Jabulani Baloi and Makhaya Komisa
