While voter registration in the Eastern Cape went according to plan, according to officials, registration at the crucial Ward 12 venue, where it had been hoped that students would register in great numbers, was disappointing.
While voter registration in the Eastern Cape went according to plan, according to officials, registration at the crucial Ward 12 venue, where it had been hoped that students would register in great numbers, was disappointing.
You'd think with all the excitement as students and their parents arrived for O-week, that the voter registration venue at Rhodes University would be abuzz with activity. But by mid-morning on Saturday, only two people had registered.
Officials had redirected four people to the right venue for their particular ward, and explained to a handful of puzzled first-years that voter registration had nothing to do with registering at the university. Given that the campus is effectively an entire ward in itself (Ward 12), this could be significant for municipal elections, as parties vie to net this significant constituency.
Amid the buzz of students who had arrived on Saturday for university registration, by mid-morning, only two residents had registered to vote at the university's drama department venue. An Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) registration official admitted that it had been a slow start, but said that it had also been quiet in the previous elections, with more students than townsfolk coming to register.
The official said four people had come to the wrong venue and they'd had to refer them to their correct voter registration venues, using the new demarcation map. Officials explained to the residents that registering for the municipal elections in the area where they lived not only made voting more convenient, but was also important in ensuring residents in a particular area voted for their own ward councillor.
Each voter would help vote in a political party, a proportional representation candidate and a ward councillor for the next five years. Grocott's Mail observed the friendly manner in which three more people who had come to the wrong venue were advised of the correct venue.
Students on campus to register for their first year got a bit lost and ended up at the voter registration venue – despite the IEC boards and enormous banner. Party agents of the ANC and the DA also popped in to ensure that registration was going smoothly.
Voter registration venues across Makana opened as early as 8am. Provincial electoral officer, Reverend Bongani Finca, was reported saying that voting stations in the province had opened on time and had been problem-free. "About 80 percent of the province registered for the previous elections and are not required to re-register, so we don't expect a flood of people or long queues," Finca said ahead of the weekend's registration drive.
