MBOMBELA: Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has asked the speakers from all the municipalities in the province to strengthen voter education in preparing for this year’s local government elections.
Speaking at the Riverside Government Complex in Mbombela yesterday, Mabuza said it was the legislative mandate of the speakers to educate people on law making processes, on the running of government as well as making people understand how to vote.
He said South Africa was twenty two years into democracy, however many people still did not know how to vote as many ballot papers were spoiled during the elections.
He said some of the electorate was the elderly who needed to be educated on voting. Some people voted at the wrong voting districts, whilst some voted twice on one ballot paper or their votes were not clear enough to be counted.
He said municipalities needed to involve the relevant stakeholders such as the Electoral Commission of South Africa and the Department of Home Affairs as they conduct public education.
“Voter education should be a joint responsibility, every South African should understand the rights and responsibilities that come with the right to vote. All municipalities have facilities such as mobile stages for public engagement, let us go all out and educate our people on voter education,” he said.
Mabuza explained that it was the mandate of the speakers in the municipalities to educate communities on ID campaigns, voter registration, civic education and voter turnout.
He has since asked the municipalities to come up with consolidated plans for public voter education.
