KOUGA Executive Mayor Horatio Hendricks has called on Kouga residents of voting age to take full advantage of the last open voter registration weekend so as to ensure they are eligible voters before the country’s general elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that January 26 and 27 will be the last open voter registration days, where the public can visit voting stations countrywide to register as voters, check their voter status or change their details.
“After this, one would only be able to register at the IEC offices, which are far from many communities, and this will be only for a short period before voter registration closes,” said Hendricks.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to do a public proclamation of the date of elections after the last open registration. South Africans will be going to the polls this year to vote for public representatives in the provincial and national legislatures.
The National Assembly, one of the two houses of the National Parliament, will then elect the President of the Republic.
Hendricks said the importance of voting could never be overstated as the future of the country and its citizens relied heavily on choices made by voters.
“The youth, in particular, have been sadly missing when it comes to voting, in spite of them facing serious challenges such as unemployment and lack of access and funding for education.
“Your vote is not only your right, but it is your voice and you need to make it count,” he said.
A person becomes eligible to vote once he is 18 years of age.
To see if one is registered to vote, one can also visit the IEC website www.elections.org.za or simply follow the link https://www.elections.org.za/. You can also SMS your ID Number to 32810 ((R1 per SMS).
