SEDIBENG – Political parties across South Africa unleashed their bigwigs this past weekend as South Africans were given a second opportunity to register to vote in the 2024 general elections.
This Electoral Commission of South Africa held a second voter registration weekend on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 February 2024 in preparation for the general polls for the National Assembly and provincial legislatures.
The weekend was to give another chance to those who could not make it in the previous round of registration held on November 18 and 19.
On Saturday, 3 February, the Secretary General of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula made a surprise visit to various areas in the Sedibeng region.
Beginning his briefing session at the party’s regional headquarters, Duma Nokwe house, Mbalula was flanked by the Provincial Deputy Coordinator, Nombulelo Nyathela, and the regional leadership.
Mbalula’s entourage made whistle-stops in areas like Bophelong, Rus-ter-Vaal, and Ramaphosa informal settlements.
Engaging dozens of residents at Ramaphosa, Mbalula emphasized the delivery of basic services, the former ANC Youth League president was in his element, claiming he was not making promises because of elections.
“Next week, we going to deliver a water tank. We are going to install electricity and many other things. Those services are not supposed to be rendered because we are having elections. Services should be rendered in this area because this is not a human dumping zone,” he said.
Mbalula added that he empathized with the shack dwellers as he once lived in such structures.
“I know the life of living in a shack because I used to stay in a shack in Botshabelo. Do not be hopeless just because you are staying in a shack. You are going to leave these shacks and get a house, water, electricity,” he said.
Meanwhile, reports say so far 27 million eligible voters had been registered, marking the highest number of registered voters since the dawn of democracy.
