Few offenders register to vote – IEC

OUT of 6 005 Limpopo prisoners, only 908 registered with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to vote in this year’s election.

This was revealed by IEC senior administration officer, Nare Mashita during a Salga provincial municipal managers’ forum at Bolivia Lodge recently.

The MEC for roads and transport, Lehlogonolo Masoga, who watched the recent state of the nation address with about 100 inmates at the Polokwane Correctional Services said they shouldn’t boycott the election.

“I know that some of the promises made are still not fulfilled. Be patient, we are speeding up service delivery. Jail is not your home,” Masoga told the inmates. “You have acquired a lot of vocational skills, so there are plenty of opportunities outside.

“You can group yourselves and form cooperatives when you get out. You should also be easily integrated into communities when you get out.”

One of the inmates, Anastasia Bester said she was happy that government organised a big screen for the inmates to watch the address, allowing them to know what was going on outside.

Another female inmate, Bongani Mathebula said president Jacob Zuma’s state of the national address was full of the future.

correctional services spokesperson, Zandile Mabunda said the reason they organised the big screen for the inmates was to keep them updated on what was happening on the outside.

“Whatever the president says involves offenders. We allowed all female offenders to go to the lapa to view the screen, while only 79 male offenders were allowed to watch the address,” Mabunda said.