Tsenoli urges communities to register to vote

Friday, February 7, 2014

Rustenburg - Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Lechesa Tsenoli has urged communities, even those that are protesting, to register to vote in the upcoming elections.

“In areas where there are protests, everyone must be allowed to go and register. It’s absolutely necessary as citizens that however we feel about what is happening, we should allow others who want to register to do so.

“It is our responsibility, in every community, every neighbourhood - let’s create the conditions to do so,” the minister said on Friday.

President Jacob Zuma announced May 7 as the day South Africans will go to the polls to elect provincial and national leadership. This will be the fifth democratic elections for the country.

This weekend (8 and 9 February) is the last voter registration drive.  South Africans will have the opportunity to register at registration stations across the country from 8am to 5pm on both days.

Tsenoli said it was important to allow people to exercise their right to vote.

The country is currently experiencing a spate of protests. Earlier this week, government condemned the use of children during protests, saying it puts their education opportunities in jeopardy.

This after a group of teenagers allegedly led a group of protesters, who wanted to burn down a police station as well as other municipal offices in Bronkhorstspruit, near Pretoria.

Tsenoli said it was necessary to talk to communities.

“It does not advance anybody’s interest to burn [buildings] down. It simply delays the construction and development of our country,” he said, adding that there should be no loss of life in protests. - SAnews.gov.za