A majority of South Africans questioned in a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) survey said they were registered to vote, the council said on Saturday.
The survey of 4 930 people conducted by the HSRC on behalf of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) found that 81,9% indicated they had registered to vote, said researcher Mbithi wa Kivilu.
”There were slightly more women registered to vote at 83,6% than men at 80,2%,” he said.
Kivilu said at provincial level, registration levels were good, averaging in the 80s with the Northern Cape having the highest at 88%.
”Limpopo however, had the lowest registration figures with only 73% of people indicating they were registered to vote,” Kivilu said.
People aged 65 and older showed the highest proportion of registrations at 96,6%, with 18- to 24-year-olds showing the lowest percentage at 48,8%.
On Saturday, there were no disruptions during the municipal voter registrations’ final weekend in the areas of Khutsong, Diepsloot and Matatiele, said IEC chair Brigalia Bam.
Bam said registration centres in the areas that had seen demonstrations against municipal boundary shifts, had operated well on Saturday morning, despite inclement weather.
She said more people were expected to register in the afternoon.
Chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula said statistics gathered from various channels indicated South Africans were very interested in verifying their registration details.
”Since we started with our communication campaign for the second round of registrations, since the beginning October alone we have received 108 799 checks via our SMS and Absa ATM facilities with people confirming their registration status.”
Tlakula said the IEC call website had received 587 647 hits since the beginning of October.
Municipal elections are scheduled for March 1 next year. – Sapa