Pretoria - South Africa is to hold its fourth local government elections before the end of May with preparations going at full steam, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.
"The country will hold the fourth local government elections before the end of May," Zuma said, delivering the third State of the Nation (SONA) address in Parliament.
Last week the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) embarked on the first voter registration drive. A total of 1 406 702 South Africans re-registered for the first time, re-registered within the same voting district or re-registered in different voting stations during the first voter registration weekend on 5 and 6 February. A total of 534 016 were new registrations.
Those who had registered for the upcoming elections were acknowledged by the President. However, he urged those who had yet registered to do so.
Those who have no Identity Documents were also urged to apply for one without delay. In the Eastern Cape over 700 000 first time Identity Documents were issued, a feat which the President says indicates "great enthusiasm by our people to have this crucial document."
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is hoping to register 1.5 million new voters ahead of the municipal elections.
"The preparations for local government elections are on course," Zuma said.
The President took note of complaints and protests over the past few months about local government. "We have to make people's experience of local government a pleasant one, as it touches their homes and their lives directly, every day," he said, adding that some municipalities were functioning well.
The turnaround strategy, which focuses on the strengthening of basic administrative systems, financial management and customer care, has been instituted for local government.
