By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa engaged community members in KwaThema, Ekurhuleni Region, as part of ongoing voter registration efforts ahead of the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections.
Political parties activists and observers were deployed to registration centres, keeping a close eye on proceedings while encouraging eligible voters to sign up.
Ramaphosa urged eligible citizens to register and participate in the Local Government Elections.
The campaign forms part of a broader push by political parties to mobilise support ahead of the polls.
Ramaphosa said he was pleased to see young people out, registering to vote.
“For me, that is really uplifting, that the work that is being done by government is resulting in young people wanting to participate, to be active citizens.
“Even on a cold day like this, there’s a buzz and activity. This is what citizenship is really about. There’s a great deal of warmth. And it’s good to be in the township as well. Really good. Each time I’m in the township, my heart is warmed up,” he said.
Ramaphosa also emphasized that only he has the constitutional authority to appoint or reshuffle cabinet ministers.
He noted that while any party in the Government of National Unity (GNU) can make suggestions, the final decision and timeline remain solely his prerogative.
uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma was met by supporters and party members when he arrived at a voter registration centre at Nkandla near his home.
Zuma, who is on a campaign to highlight the importance of the voter registration weekend, visited the Ntolwane Primary School, to verify his own details on the voters’ roll.
He is registered to vote in ward 14 which has more than 4 000 registered voters.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Geordin Hill-Lewis spent Saturday morning engaging with his party’s supporters and undecided voters in Bonteheuwel and Langa.
The DA is fighting to maintain its majority in Cape Town against challenges from the National Coloured Congress and the Patriotic Alliance.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema proposed an Electoral Matters Amendment Bill to introduce automatic voter registration.
Malema gave notice in a government gazette that he intends to introduce a Private Member’s Bill to automatically register people who are eligible to vote, on the voters’ roll.
The explanatory summary for the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill was published in the government gazette on Friday.
It noted that the Electoral Act permitted voter registration from the age of 16, but registration remained a voluntary process, dependent on individual initiative and voter registration drives organised by the IEC.
Registration stations will remain open until 5 pm on Saturday and will reopen on Sunday from 8 am.
South Africans are reminded that they should register in the area where they reside, as they will only be able to vote at the registered voting station.
Eligible citizens may also register online at registertovote.elections.org.za.
Voters can also verify registration details on the IEC app, by contacting the Commission’s contact centre on 0800 11 8000 or by sending their identity number via SMS to 32810. The 2026 Local Government Elections will be held on the 4th of November 2026.