Johnathan Paoli
THE Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chairperson Mosotho Moepya personally attended the registration of eligible prisoners at the Zonderwater Correctional Service in Cullinan, Pretoria on Thursday.
The visit by the Chairperson formed part of the Electoral Commission’s voter registration drive for inmates, which ends on Friday, with the commission stating that it set aside the period of 30 January to 1 February 2024, specifically for inmates’ registration ahead of this year’s national and provincial elections.
“From now henceforth, the commission will continue to strengthen civic and voter education initiatives to make sure that voters are fully informed about their roles and responsibilities in the upcoming elections. This is important because an informed electorate is the bedrock of a thriving democracy,” Moepya said.
IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo had earlier said the national voters’ roll has, for the first time, surpassed the 27 million mark and outlined the commission’s plans for the upcoming voter registration weekend during a media briefing at Centurion, Pretoria on Wednesday.
Mamabolo said that the commission would host the second national voter registration weekend, scheduled for February 3 and 4 following the first round of voter registration weekend held on November 18 and 19 last year.
“The voter Registration Weekend will have over 69,718 staff members who have been recruited and trained,” the CEO said.
Mamabolo said that over 23,000 voting stations across the country would be open for citizens to register or check if their details were updated, operating from 8am and 5pm on both days.
The IEC said that it acknowledged that many offenders do not keep ID documents in their possession and it was for this reason family members were requested to make the necessary arrangements by delivering any of the following forms of identification: green-barcoded ID, smartcard ID or temporary identification certificate (TIC) to correctional facilities.
The Department of Correctional Services said that it would put all necessary measures in place to ensure that IDs are kept safe.
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