Submitted by freenet on Sun, 09/11/2008 - 18:50
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By Nthambeleni Gabara
Pretoria - An estimated 1.1 million South Africans have visited the voter registration stations countrywide on Saturday to register for the 2009 General Elections, says the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Briefing reporters on Sunday in Pretoria, IEC Chairperson Dr Brigalia Bam said despite drizzles, South Africans were flocking in large numbers to more than 19 000 voter registration stations across the country to register for next year's general elections.
"On Saturday, an estimated 1.1 million people had visited the voter registration stations to either register, re-register if they had moved or changed residence or to inspect their details on the voter's roll.
"Weather conditions continued to impact on the turnout. However, the IEC was confident that more people will still find time to visit the registration stations before they closed," she said.
According to Ms Bam, potential voters also visited the IEC website and contacted its call centre to confirm their voting status.
The IEC chairperson added that they would reach their target of registering over two million voters through their continued registration process at schools and municipalities across the country on Sunday.
She also reiterated that registration at Moutse, where residents were against the idea of being moved from Mpumalanga to Limpopo went on smoothly.
Ms Bam said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Advocate Pantsy Tlakula and Commissioner Terry Tselane visited Moutse East, including Elandsodoring, Tambo and Ntoane where they also witnessed the opening of the registration stations.
"While the voting stations will close at 5pm, nobody present at those stations at that time will be turned away before they are registered or their details have been checked," she said.
On Saturday, the IEC's website had received more than 206 556 hits, 195 598 people had sent SMSs and more than 22 500 had made inquiries on the IEC's call centre.
Ms Bam said on Sunday, their website had recorded a total of 59 137 hits, while the SMS facility received 53 540 messages and the call centre 19 444 from callers enquiring about their registration status or at which station they should register.
In the two voter registration days, the IEC's website has received more than 259 693 hits, the SMS facility 249 138 and call centre, 50 000 calls.
"We are promoting this national effort with the hope that it will help answer voter's questions, register new ones and make participation as simple as possible as we head into our general election next year," she said.
This weekend's voter registration drive was intended to provide eligible voters with an opportunity to register in their correct voting stations.
Voters were being given the opportunity to find out if they were registered allowing them to check their voter registration details including checking their voting station for next year.
Adv Tlakula has urged South Africans to be patient as the internet and call centre were not able to cope with the demand.
However, potential voters are still advised to SMS their Identity Document (ID) numbers 32810 or to visit the IEC website www.elections.org.za and enter their ID number to find out if they need to register or change their details.
"We thank South Africans for their patience during challenges faced by our website and call centre during peak periods.
"I also wish to thank our stakeholders, IEC and registration staff for their commitment to service excellence during the challenging weather conditions," she said. - BuaNews