Cabinet has thanked those South Africans who heeded the call to register to vote or to update their address details during last weekend’s voter registration drive.
“This is a milestone in preparation for the sixth national and provincial elections expected to take place in 2019,” said Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane at a post Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.
A total of 2 767 139 citizens visited voting stations at the weekend.
Of the 2.76 million plus voters who visited their voting stations, over 1.3 million re-registered in their current voting district. More than 800 000 changed their registration to a new voting district and almost 500 000 were voters registering for the first time.
Cabinet noted that 82% of the new voters were under the age of 30 and approximately 54% were women.
Gauteng saw the most new registrations at 23.69%, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 18.78% and Limpopo with 17.03%.
The province with the highest level of overall registrations was the Eastern Cape at 87%, followed by the Free State at just over 82% and KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Northern Cape at 79%.
Despite the most new registrations, Gauteng’s overall registration sat at 67.3%.
“The IEC reported that the voter’s roll now stands at 26 250 939 voters, which roughly equates to 75% of the eligible voting population based on Statistics South Africa voting age population estimates,” said Minister Mokonyane.
Cabinet said it was encouraged that the 300 000 citizens who visited voting stations were among the almost 2.8 million voters for whom the IEC did not have an address going into the weekend.
“An up-to-date and accurate voter’s roll affirms the credibility of the voter’s roll and strengthens our democracy by ensuring free, fair and credible elections,” said the Minister.
South Africans who were not able to visit their local voting station at the weekend have been urged to visit their local IEC office to verify and complete their addresses.
“Alternatively, the IEC’s online facility at www.elections.org.za/MyIEC and the app remains available 24 hours a day for registered voters to check and update their address details,” said Minister Mokonyane. – SAnews.gov.za
