The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) expects to meet its registration goal of 22-million voters by Sunday, the final day of registration.
”We are confident that we will reach our target of 22-million eligible voters on the voters’ roll,” said chairperson of the IEC Brigalia Bam in a statement.
All of its registration stations opened, though some were delayed by rain. Six stations in Moutse, Mpumalanga, opened on Sunday after they did not open on Saturday due to ”protests and intimidation”.
According to the statement, the protests did not ultimately affect registration and police officers had been on the scene.
The IEC said it was disturbed by accusations that some voters of certain parties had been purged from the voters’ rolls. On Saturday, Inkatha Freedom Party national chairperson Zanele Magwaza said she had received calls from the party’s members who complained that their names did not appear on the voters’ roll.
”We believe that there are shenanigans at the IEC,” said Magwaza. She accused the IEC of having ”ANC elements”.
”We requested those parties to submit evidence of such irregularity. We want to reassure all South Africans that party affiliation has never been a consideration for registering as a voter,” said Bam. — Sapa