IT’S all systems go for the IEC as it prepares for weekend voter registration for Mzansi people living oorkant.
The commission’s chief electoral officer, Sy Mamabolo, told the media briefing in Centurion, Tshwane on Thursday, 25 January that 18 469 South African citizens living in 101 countries around the world have started registering to vote using the newly launched online registration portal system.
The system has been operational since December 2023.
“The Electoral Commission has enabled an online registration facility for the first time to allow South Africans outside the country to easily register for the 2024 National Elections,” said Mamabolo.
He said in the 2019 elections, about 21 000 South Africans voted abroad, with 7 023 of them being newly registered.
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He said the commission hoped that the introduction of an online registration system will attract the majority of citizens from abroad.
“We take this opportunity to thank everyone who has heeded our call to use the online system and appeal to citizens living outside the country who are eligible to vote to take advantage of the upcoming overseas voter registration weekend on 26, 27, and 28 January 2024,” he said.
Countries with the most people registering online include the United Kingdom (5 938), the Netherlands (1 844), Germany (746), the United States (821), Ireland (675), United Arab Emirates (1 068), China (515), Australia (588), New Zealand (314), Cuba (293), Portugal (284) and Belgium (280).
On the African continent, South Africans have begun to register in 28 countries, including Mauritius (316), Lesotho (224) Namibia (148), Botswana (170), Zambia (96), Zimbabwe (77), Kenya (73), Ghana (45) and Tanzania (40).
Mamabolo said South African high commissions, embassies, and consulates will be open during working hours.
He said however, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) informed the IEC that three missions, Israel, Sudan, and Ukraine, have been temporarily closed due to security concerns.
He said the commission has put in place all necessary measures to ensure that no one was left behind and that all the citizens vote.
