Millions of South Africans are expected to register this weekend for the 2009 general elections, the country’s electoral authorities said on Wednesday.
A total of 19 713 stations have been opened across the country where citizens can register or check their registration details in the two-day exercise that begins on Saturday, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said in a statement.
In 2006, a total of 21 054 957 South Africans aged 18 or above registered to vote, with women accounting for 11 574 118 of that figure, according to the IEC.
The main political parties, including the ruling African National Congress (ANC), have launched mobilisation campaigns across the country to encourage supporters to sign up to vote.
South Africa’s main opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), is mounting a campaign aimed at ending the ANC’s dominant parliamentary majority.
“Stop Zuma two-thirds majority: register to vote,” reads a DA leaflet, written in English and Afrikaans, two of South Africa’s 11 official languages.
Earlier this year, ANC leader Jacob Zuma vowed that his party would “rule until Jesus comes back” and has recently campaigned countrywide for voters to register.
But the party, founded as a liberation movement in 1912, is facing a challenge from dissidents who broke away from the party to launch a national convention last weekend to form a new party ahead of next year’s poll.
No date has yet been set for the elections next year.
Under South African law, the president is expected to set a date for the election, which must be held within 90 days of the date that Parliament has been dissolved or its term expired. — AFP