Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has urged South Africans to register to vote during the second and final national voter registration weekend on 1-2 August, 2026.
Hlabisa’s call comes as South Africa prepares for the next Local Government Elections, with the voter registration weekend providing eligible citizens an opportunity to register or update their registration details before the polls.
Speaking during a joint media briefing with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on the temporary withholding of municipal equitable share transfers, Hlabisa said active citizen participation is essential to improve the performance of municipalities.
The Minister encouraged eligible citizens to use the voter registration weekend on 1-2 August, to register ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections.
"I would like to urge the people of South Africa to go and register. The coming weekend, 1 and 2 August, is an open weekend for registration. Go and register as a voter," Hlabisa said.
Hlabisa also encouraged citizens to participate in the nomination of candidates, and to vote for leaders capable of serving their communities.
"Go and vote for people who will serve you. It is not going to help to complain if you don't participate in selecting who should be your candidate.”
Hlabisa emphasised that the quality of local governance depends on the calibre of councillors elected to office, saying: “If we want to fix municipalities, we must fix who becomes a councillor. That is the bottom line.”
He added that elected leaders must ensure that public funds are spent on essential services and priority needs, rather than non-essential projects.
"When the money comes, it must do what it is supposed to do and not be spent on the nice-to-haves - eventually leading municipalities into a critical state," Hlabisa said. – SAnews.gov.za
