Residents from the Msholozi informal settlement celebrate after registering at the Mackenzie Park voting station. They are (from left): Emmanuel Kubheka, Duduzi Ehlongwane, Mava Rwairwai, Bethuel Madonzela and Vincent Langa. Rwairwai praised the speedy service and said: “I came to register because I love this country, I want to see it going forward. I’m proud that everyone can have their own opinion”.
Most voting stations were reportedly quiet, with a trickle of residents coming in to register.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) released the results of the registration weekend on Tuesday (March 8), along with the announcement of the second and final registration weekend, which will be held on April 9 and 10.
Voting stations will be open nationwide for registration from 8am to 5pm on both days.
Citizens can still register at their local IEC offices during business hours, until the voters’ roll closes, for which no date was set at the time of publication.
The local IEC office is in the Benoni municipal building, on the corner of Elston Avenue and Tom Jones Street, in the CBD.
Joseph and Shannon Joelene Stephens, from Petit, were at Petit High School to register as voters for the first time. “It’s important to vote, because there are a lot of things that have to change,” were Joseph’s words. Shannon said: “As a coloured person, I would not have had this right 20 years ago; it’s important for me”.
Residents from Fairleads at the Petit High School voting station. They are (from left): Herman Welgemoed, Lucia Pieters, Hets Welgemoed and Valerie Viljoen. The group encountered a snag, as they were told to re-register in Crystal Park, due to new ward demarcations. They were previously registered in Petit. Herman said they would vote because: “We feel it is important for our country, every vote counts”.
Coen Stander, from Marister, explained his reason for registering to vote: “It’s important, our country isn’t alright. I’m hoping for change.”
Kedibone Mashego (left) registers Nkosinathi Zwane (from Msholozi informal settlement) at the Mackenzie Park voting station. Zwane said he is voting “so that I can raise my opinion. I want to make a change”.
