By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africans living abroad will be permitted to register to vote in the forthcoming national elections at the 120 high commissions, embassies and consulates at the weekend starting on Friday.
IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya, said that this weekend, more than two million South Africans living abroad would be able to make their mark this election period.
He said that with the world becoming a global village, it had become much easier for those living outside the country to cast their votes.
“The world is becoming more complex but also, there are a multiplicity of solutions. I can’t imagine if we were doing this 10 years ago, we would be required to print thousands of forms and send them to all the 120 intermissions abroad and train people. Then we would be required to communicate with millions of South Africans who are spread across those 120 countries.”
Moepya said South Africans who resided outside the country were usually registered through embassies abroad.
“When we register our people, we register them through our embassies, missions and consulates. That is where we are limited. One would have to communicate with all of those citizens in those countries and … get them to come to the missions. Today, it is a little easier, but requires a lot of work.”
For the first time, South Africans abroad may also register using the online self-registration portal by visiting and capturing their details and uploading a scanned image of their identity document.
He said the country has systems in place to ensure a free and fair elections, even for those who were outside the country.
“We have to develop systems and allow persons to register themselves. These systems enable people to register online and we currently have that. We are able to also communicate with South Africans living abroad, on digital and online platforms but also take limited advertisements in those countries.”
Meanwhile political parties have welcomed the announcement by the Electoral Commission that the second and final voter registration weekend will take place in February 2024.
This signals that discussions between President Cyril Ramaphosa and the IEC are now at an advanced stage and near finalisation, with the election date likely to be announced early in the new year.
On February 3 and 4, the country’s 23 296 voting stations will be open from 8 to 5.
The Electoral Commission’s contact centre is also available to deal with queries. The centre, which can be reached on 0800 11 8000, operates from 8am-5pm on weekdays.
The online voter registration portal remains available until the date of proclamation of the elections. In addition, registered voters can visit the Electoral Commission website to check their current registration details and voting station. They can also SMS their ID number to 32810 to receive confirmation of the address of their voting station (charged at R1).