The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa said that while it was pleased with the turnout of eligible South Africans registering to vote this past weekend, it was concerned that about 9-million people did not register.

The IEC held a media briefing on Tuesday where it revealed that over 700 000 new voters added their names to the voters’ roll during this past registration weekend.

Almost 2.5-million South Africans visited their voting stations this past weekend and the voters' roll stands at over 26.7-million voters.

IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said the commission was working to attract 6-million young South Africans, under the age of 30, to register at their nearest IEC office before the election proclamation date is announced.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce the election date in February.  

The IEC will also embark on a campaign at higher learning institutions to ensure that young South Africans register to vote.

Mamabolo encouraged eligible voters to make use of the IEC’s online system to verify or alter their details by using cellphone numbers or email addresses. 

PROVINCIAL VOTERS

KwaZulu-Natal registered the highest number of new registrations at 246 874 while Gauteng recorded 236 287, and the Eastern Cape 130 959.

In terms of the total voters’ roll, Gauteng registered the most voters at 6 366 629, KwaZulu-Natal had a total of 5 525 222, the Eastern Cape recorded 3 365 821 voters, the Western Cape was at 3 120 239, Limpopo registered 2 607 294 voters, Mpumalanga had 1 949 163, the North West recorded 1 703 795 voters, the Free State had 1 463 790 and the Northern Cape registered the least, with 625 968 voters.

“Of the new voters, 52% are women and 48% constitute men, while nearly half are aged between 20 and 29, 26.6% are aged 18 to 19 and 59.9% are aged from 16 to 17 years,” Mamabolo highlighted.

In addition to new registrations, 1 078 416 voters used the weekend to register in a new voting district and 690 310 voters confirmed their registration at the same voting station.

IEC chairperson Glen Mashini thanked the Department of Home Affairs for allowing its branches to stay open during the voter registration weekend, to allow South Africans to apply for or collect their ID books.

He also commended the work done by the Department of Correctional Services for ensuring that those who are incarcerated were also registered to vote.

“We also thank the 68 000 IEC employees in ensuring a successful registration weekend,” said Mashinini.

Plans are also in place to ensure that South Africans living abroad take part in a voter registration drive between February 1 and 4.