File photo: President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the ANC's birthday celebration speech on January 8 at Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.Image: Source
South Africans' enthusiasm for voting in the upcoming general election continued over the weekend, with the number of voters crossing the 27 million mark for the first time since 1994.
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Deputy Elections Officer Masego Shibli said that in addition to gathering at local polling stations, prospective voters were also using the IEC's online voter registration portal.
“Today alone, the online voter registration portal recorded over 20,525 transactions, of which 7,234 were new registrations.” The platform is available 24 hours a day. The online registration platform continues to provide a return on investment,” said Shiburi.
Voters who were unable to register over the weekend can still register at their local IEC office, but the registration deadline is set for the date President Cyril Ramaphosa declares election day (which has not yet been announced).
With more than 350 registered political parties and a large number of independent parliamentary candidates to choose from, those who registered to vote over the registration weekend, which closes on Sunday evening, will be spoiled for choice.
In KwaZulu-Natal, there has been a major competition for voters between the province's four main political parties (ANC, IFP, DA, and EFF) following the launch of the ANC's splinter organization, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, at the end of last year. It was opened. .
Mr Ramaphosa visited various voter registration centers in Gauteng on Sunday, although he denied that the MK party would hurt his support in North Carolina in the election.
Ramaphosa said that unlike previous elections, there seemed to be a lot of interest in this general election, with many young people registering who had not shown much interest in the past.
“Young people's reluctance to vote is beginning to dissipate. Young people are coming forward to register and vote.”
IFP President Belenkosini Hlavisa visited a voter registration center in Ndwedwe, north of Durban.
DA leader John Steenhuesen, who visited several voter registration offices in Howick, described the weekend as “encouraging”.
In the run-up to the election, Mr Steenhuisen said the DA would present voting young people with “the DA's plan to help them build a better future”.
when witness We visited various voter registration centers across Pietermaritzburg on Sunday and most centers were buzzing with activity.
Some prospective voters said they were voting for change, while others wanted to maintain the status quo.
Thobelani Mkhize, from Panorama Ward 34, said she hoped her vote would make a difference.
“One thing we all want is an end to offloading. I am studying online and it has been very difficult to keep up with offloading and the ever-changing schedule.
“It's very difficult for me too because there's often no electricity and no network. I think it's also great to graduate from school and get a job. I'm currently studying, but when I finish school… I don’t know if I’ll have a job later.”
“We hope that the party that wins this election will prioritize creating more jobs for young people.
Another young man voting for the first time, Sobantu-based Masisokoze Mbata, said he was looking forward to voting.
“I'm 18 years old and this is my first time voting. I feel so much pressure because my vote affects something, but I don't want to make any mistakes. But overall, I I am looking forward to this experience,” Mbatha said.
Some people around Pietermaritzburg admitted they planned to vote in the next election, while others said: witness that they were not going to vote. Randhir Kenna, also from Sobantu, said he had lost faith in his political party.
This article first appeared in The Witness.