By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to play an active role in shaping the country’s future by registering to vote.
Saturday and Sunday mark the last weekend that voters may register, update, and verify their details on the voters’ roll ahead of the Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026.
Ramaphosa paid a courtesy visit to the Royal Family of Bapo-baMogale before engaging voters at the Segwetlhane Primary School in Ward 5, Bapong, Madibeng Local Municipality.
The visit was interrupted when Princess Itumeleng Moerane denied Ramaphosa and his delegation entry, demanding government intervention in a traditional leadership dispute that has remained unresolved since 2016.
The standoff was later resolved after Moerane was escorted away, allowing Ramaphosa to enter the palace.
Following the meeting, Moerane apologised publicly to Ramaphosa and explained that her actions were driven by frustration over what she described as years of government inaction.
However, Bapo-Ba-Mogale Royal House spokesperson Vladimir Mogale disputed Moerane’s claims, insisting that the community has a recognised Kgosi and that due process has been followed.
“We’ve had the late Judge Sammy Maluleke conduct a commission on our chieftaincy dispute, and there is a report on that,” Mogale said.
After his meeting, Ramaphosa engaged residents in Majakaneng, Bojanala Region, encouraging every eligible South African to register to vote or verify their details on the voters’ roll
His call comes as more than 11 million eligible South Africans have yet to register ahead of this weekend’s final voter registration drive.
“Our people must get involved in citizen activism. They must get involved in the affairs of their country. Sitting back and not doing anything about where the country should go is not the right thing to do.”
Ramaphosa assured the residents of Bapong that the interventions and progress is made in solving the issues that are currently affecting them.
The President appreciated the amount of support from them, especially the youth that have come out during this Final Voter Registration weekend to ensure that they are active participants in the progression of our democracy.
In a final push to boost voter registration, Ramaphosa will wrap up the ANC’s campaign trail in Emalahleni Municipality in Mpumalanga.
Political parties across the country urged eligible South Africans to visit their nearest voter registration this weekend for the Electoral Commission’s (IEC) final voter registration weekend.