Durban - Most political parties in KwaZulu-Natal are confident that the youth will register this weekend ahead of the local government elections, but said campaigning will continue with much zeal after Sunday.
Earlier this week, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said they hoped more young people would register for the 2011 local government elections.
The IEC will open all its voting stations on 5-6 February between 8am and 5pm for voters to register and check their details.
Political parties were equally concerned that a large number of the youth were still not registered.
According to the IEC, young people in the 20 to 29 age group are estimated at 9.5 million, yet only 53.7 percent of this figure is registered to vote.
ANC KZN Provincial Secretary, Sihle Zikalala, said the youth is one of their key focus areas during their election campaign.
"We are expecting the youth to go out tomorrow in their numbers. They are an important part of general life so we want them to really participate in this registration process," said Zikalala.
Zweli Mkhize, ANC provincial chairperson and KZN Premier, will be moving around the province on Saturday to monitor the registration process.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) confirmed that its leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi will lead a voter registration drive in Durban.
IFP youth brigade leader, Pat Lebenya-Ntanzi, told BuaNews that events will be staged in the 11 districts in KZN.
She said youth teams have been placed in each district to encourage their peers to register and also check that their voting details are correct.
"Our youth leaders have gone door-to-door handing out pamphlets and speaking to them about the importance of voting. The IFP women's brigade is following a similar procedure," said Lebenya-Ntanzi.
She said the party hopes that IEC will make another voting registration weekend possible, even though she believes that large numbers of people will turn up over the next two days.
"We plan to continue visiting high schools, especially to target first time voters," Lebenya-Ntanzi added.
National Chair of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Jo-Ann Downs, also wants another weekend set aside for voter registration.
She said the ACDP SMSed all their supporters, put up posters and reached out to churches to spread the word about voter registration.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in KZN Sizwe Mchunu said the party is satisfied with its intensive campaign to lure voters.
"Our public reps have been hard at work to communicate the importance of registering and voting. We want to say how essential it is for the general population to exercise their democratic right to vote. We are expecting a very huge turnout this weekend," said Mchunu.
Meanwhile, Minority Front leader, Amichand Rajbansi said it was time for some sections of the South African population to overcome apathy.
"Let's look at various communities, while whites and Africans are more conscious about voting in this election, it is sad that 50 percent of Indians have not registered since 1994... Therefore mindsets have to change," said Rajbansi.
He added his party placed adverts in newspapers and radio stations to get people to register and hopes the youth will heed the call.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Sicelo Shiceka, will release the actual date for the local government elections which will be held anytime between 2 March and 30 May.
