The Mpumalanga Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said the registration weekend was successful despite the fact that some wards experienced challenges.
The voting stations were open from 08:00 to 17:00 on Saturday 3 and Sunday February 4 to allow new voters to register and existing ones to update their registration details.
The provincial IEC’s communication and stakeholder liaison, Thanduxolo Chembeni, told the newspaper that six wards experienced interruptions, one in Nkomazi Local Municipality and five in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.
Chembeni said, “In Nkomazi Ward 6 at Mbombo Primary School, the station could not open due to a community protest on Saturday February 3. Although through the intervention of SAPS and community leaders that negotiated with the protesters, the station was open the whole day on February 4,” he explained.
In Bushbuckridge, stations were also affected on Saturday.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga SAPS arrests alleged serial abuser
“Ward 6 at Badlangaye Primary School, Ward 9 at Diphaswa School, Ward 11 at Saile and Aselemani Schools, and Ward 7 at Thabakgolo Primary School, could not open in the morning due to community protests. After negotiations with the protesting community the stations were later opened.
“In Ward 14 at Ben Matlhoshe School, the community raised their lack of service delivery frustrations on Saturday and the station did not open, although it was open on Sunday,” he explained.
Chembeni said those who missed the opportunity to register over the weekend can still register using the online service at Registertovote.elections.org.za, or visit their local offices in all the 17 municipalities in the province.
ALSO READ: University of Mpumalanga hosts public colloquium
“They can visit from 08:00 to16:30 weekdays. A person registering must be a South African Citizen, be 16 years or older, possess a valid South African identity document (green bar-coded ID, smart ID card or valid temporary identification certificate), and register where one will vote. Registration will close midnight on the day the president of the republic proclaims the election day in the Government Gazette,” he said.
Chembeni added that the voter registration turnout was beyond their expectation.
“If a voter will not be able to cast his vote at his or her voting district during election day, the voter must notify the commission of where he or she intends to cast his or her vote, so that approval can be granted. This must be done by the date that will be indicated in the election timetable,” said Chembeni.
