FEATURE
Source: SAnews
Local Government Elections: Exercise your right
S
outh Africans will
is now sealed, the last
age category 16-29
soon have an
voter registration week-
accounted for
opportunity to
end before the elections,
402 401 of the new
exercise their right to vote,
on 18 and 19 September,
registrations, which
when they cast their ballots
resulted in more than 1.7
is 91%.
in the sixth Local Gov-
million people turning
ernment Elections since
up at voter registration
bolo, innovations such as
democracy.
stations to either register
the voter management
for the first time or check
device, increased the
A solid basis was laid
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
According to Mama-
their registration details.
speed at which voter reg-
for its future use,” said
Minister, Dr Nkosazana
The Electoral Commis-
istration applications were
Mamabolo.
Dlamini-Zuma, recently
sion’s Chief Electoral Of-
gazetted the date for the
ficer, Sy Mamabolo, said
municipal elections, which
433 198 people registered
have taken weeks to
will take place on
as first time voters. This
capture address details of
1 November 2021.
accounts for 25% of the
new applicants following
unable to visit voting sta-
total registration activity.
a registration event,” he
tions due to infirmity will
said.
be visited at their homes
“We are now all looking towards voting day. We
Voters who re-registered
processed.
Special votes for the
“Previously, it would
election will be cast on 30 and 31 October 2021. Applicants who are
Since its inception in
or places of confinement
or changed their voting
July, the online registra-
while all other success-
free and fair municipal
district accounted for
tion portal has processed
ful candidates will cast
elections.
1 277 811 applications.
499 488 applications.
special votes at the voting
urge all South Africans to
in the same voting district
ensure peaceful, credible,
The province with the
“This digital chan-
far proved true - our
highest registration activ-
nel provides voters the
noble intentions to keep
ity was KwaZulu-Natal
convenience of use in
sults are confirmed, coun-
the flame of democracy
with 358 384, followed by
terms of time of applica-
cils for all 48 districts,
burning by voting on 1
Gauteng with 315 282 and
tion as well as place of
eight metropolitan and
November 2021,” said the
the Eastern Cape with
application. It will become
207 local municipalities in
Minister.
240 514.
an anchor mechanism of
each of the country's nine
registration in the future.
provinces will be elected.
“Our actions have thus
While the voter’s roll
20
Young persons in the
stations. Once the election re-
Public Sector Manager • October 2021
