By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) gave an update on the progress of the final registration drive on Saturday afternoon ahead of the seventh democratic elections in the country in 2024.
It said 55,000 of the people who registered on Saturday were first-time voters.
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi: “This early turnout not only sets a positive tone for the registration period but also sets a tone that residents remain engaged with the affairs of their country.”
Sheburi said the IEC’s online platform also saw thousands of registrations.
“Today alone, the online portal recorded over 20,000 transactions. Of those, 7,234 were new registrations, ie, persons entering the voters roll for the first time.”
Sheburi added that the registration weekend got off to a good start as they started on time.
He said the online platform will be available for people to register until President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the date of the elections.
Political parties have also been busy campaigning during the voter registration weekend.
Ramaphosa was on a campaign train in Soweto on Saturday. The African National Congress has also deployed its senior leaders across the country.
“There is no other party that we’re going to go with. Today, we’re educated because of the ANC. We’ll go ahead with the ANC.”
“It’s going very well,” he said in a crowd outside the Jabulani Mall, predicting a successful registration drive. Asked when he would name the election date, he smiled broadly: “Soon”.
Some ANC officials in the crowd suggested the announcement could come as soon as Thursday, when Ramaphosa is due to give his annual State of the Nation address to parliament in Cape Town.
The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema, was in eThekwini this weekend. This is also ahead of the party’s launch of the manifesto at Moses Mabhida stadium next weekend.
Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen has taken his campaign to Gauteng on Saturday. He will move to KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday.
The leader of Inkatha Freedom Party Velenkosini Hlabisa, was in KwaZulu-Natal to drum up support for his party.
The general election must be held within 90 days of the end of Ramaphosa’s term in May, and will elect a National Assembly which in turn will decide on whether to extend his mandate or endorse a new president.