07 February 2024, Johannesburg, Braamfontein
The Young Communist League of South Africa (Ufasimba) notes the update by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Simon Mamabolo on the final open voter registration weekend held on the weekend of the 3 – 4 February 2024.
The YCLSA notes that over the two registration weekends, the country has seen a growth of the voters’ roll. The total overall stands at 27.8 Million people who appear on the voters’’ roll and are eligible to vote in the upcoming 2024 National Provincial Elections.
In the past voter registration weekends just over 2 million citizens interacted with the commission this they did by either visiting the 23 303 voting stations or using the online voter registration portal. We further note that over the 2 million transactions recorded 44 384 were new entrants on the voters’ roll. A total of 1 606 370 were inspected and updated their registration details. The YCLSA is encouraged by the surge in the number of people that have shown interest this is after we saw an increase in the province of KZN which registered 510 670 transactions, followed by Gauteng with 452 596 and the Eastern Cape at third place 305 460 transactions.
The YCLSA is delighted to note that of the total number of new registrations the youth accounts for 77% these are people under the age of 29 who are entering the voters’ roll for the first time, Kwa Zulu Natal taking the lead in the highest number of young people registered at 103 547 followed by Gauteng at 82 168 and in the third place is the Eastern Cape 43 673. We call on the Youth to make their voice be heard and vote for the ANC on the upcoming elections The voters roll now stands at 27,4 Million, with Gauteng remaining the highest voting population at 6,4 million voters, followed by Kwa Zulu Natal at 5,7 million with the Eastern Cape at 3,4 million voters. An interesting aspect is that the age category 20 -29 sits at 4,3 million now representing 48% measured against the voting age population.
The overall summation of voter registration is encouraging and further casts a motion of confidence in the systems of the IEC, this is after they have successfully delivered 2
registration weekends which were free from any incidents, notwithstanding the general glitches that are inherent.
We also wish to call on the IEC to reinforce security and police visibility on the day of voting this is after we have heard of cases of assault in one of the voting stations where a member from one political party was assaulted for supporting and canvassing for their political party.
This kind of behavior cannot and should not be tolerated everyone has a right to association. As the YCLSA we call on all eligible voters who are still not registered to explore the online voter registrations or visit the offices of the electoral commission in municipalities to register.
Registration will remain open until the proclamation of the election date by the President of the Republic. People can still make use of the SMS 32810 to check their registration status or the contact centre of the IEC or the WhatsApp line 0600 88 000 is also available to assist voters.
Issued by YCLSA
National Secretary- Mzwandile Thakhudi
For interviews and Enquiries
National Spokesperson- Ramatolo Tlotleng
Cell: (074) 478 4403
Media Liaison Officer – Dineo Mokoena
Cell: (073) 969-8532
