Pretoria – The final voter registration weekend is in full swing in Pretoria’s northern suburbs as South Africans use the opportunity to register for the first time, re-register or update their address ahead of the 2016 Local Government Elections.
Although voters came in in drips and drabs at 8am when the stations opened, an hour later queues had formed as old and young people heeded the call to register to vote in the 3 August polls.
At some voting stations like Gerrit Maritz Hoerskool, many of the voters were senior citizens, some youths were seen in other voting stations. This as the Electoral Commission of South Africa has focussed on getting youths to register to vote.
Zinhle Madlala, 19, from Wonderpark is a first time voter. She said although she is concerned about the reports in the newspapers at the moment, she decided to take part in the municipal elections.
“I’m hoping that by voting, my voice will be heard and I’m also hoping that the councillors who will be elected in our ward will keep their promises when it comes to service delivery,” said Madlala.
Prince Moloi, 42, from Theresa Park said he had not planned on going to the station to update his address details but when he received a text message from the Electoral Commission urging him to visit the voting station, he changed his mind.
“If I vote I can raise issues and make demands as it means I have put the councillor in the position. They have a responsibility to listen to me, as a voter, and address the issues raised,” said Moloi.
The weekend of 9 and 10 April 2016 is the final weekend is the final registration weekend ahead of the municipal elections.
The Electoral Commission has made a special plea to all existing registered voters to use this weekend to visit their voting station to update and confirm their address details.
Existing voters can check whether additional address information is required for them by SMSing their ID number to 32810 at a cost of R1.
They will receive an SMS back with the name of the voting station where they are currently registered.
Voters for whom incomplete address details are currently captured will receive a second SMS urging them to visit their voting station to update their details.
Voters can also check their status by dialing *120*432# or online at www.elections.org.za or call the contact centre on 0800 11 8000 between 7am and 9pm.
The voting stations will close at 5pm and reopen tomorrow at 8am for the final day of the registration drive. - SAnews.gov.za
