Home Affairs offices throughout the country will be opened this weekend to assist those who will be applying for identity documents (IDs), including temporary, ones to enable them to register to vote.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi made the announcement in a media briefing on Friday. Assistance will also be given to those who want to collect their identity documents.
Motsoaledi says there are over 400 000 uncollected Identity Documents (IDs) in their officers throughout the country.
“Our problem is not really to issue IDs, our problem is collection of IDs. As you have already said to me, 418 000 IDs that have not been collected. We send people SMSes as it is generally the process to inform them that your ID is ready but they are still not coming,” says Motsoaledi.
Readiness for the voter registration weekend on 18-19 September 2021
All necessary measures in place to ensure a smooth voters’ registration process: IEC in North West
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in the North West says it has put all necessary measures in place to ensure a smooth voters’ registration process. Over 1 740 stations will be operating this weekend in the province with more than 4000 staff members.
IEC Provincial Electoral Officer, Dr Tumelontle Thiba, says they will mostly target young people during the voters’ registration drive.
“Our staff members that has been trained are close to 4000 for the 1 743 voting stations that we are opening. So we are confident that we are ready. We would like to have as many young people as possible registering voters that is. We also would like for voters who already on the voters roll to come and update their details particularly the addresses where these are missing.”
Dr Thiba says although some parts of the province have been experiencing violent protests, they don’t expect any disruptions.
“I really don’t expect citizens in this province to disrupt IEC work. We have had a problem in Rustenburg last Friday of disgruntled purported ANC (African National Congress) members holding our staff hostage. Fortunately, there was a response from law enforcement officers. We hope that there will not be a repeat of that case. It is very important that given the constraints of time we register voters,” says Dr Thiba.
Over 1000 voting stations to be opened in the Western Cape
A total of 1 577 voting stations will be open across the Western Cape during this weekend’s final voter registration weekend. The Electoral Commission in the province says of these, 38 are temporary sites where there are no permanent structures available. Residents can also register to vote online.
Provincial Electoral Officer Michael Hendrickse, says voting stations will be open for registrations across the province from 8 am on Saturday until 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
“For the registration weekend, we have recruited and trained 3 290 registration staff and in addition for the preparation of this registration weekend as well as for the preparation and delivery of our elections that will take place in November. We have also contracted additional staff on short term contracts,” says Hendrickse.
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