Durban - Speaker in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Nontembeko Boyce says they will continue to encourage all of the province’s eligible voters to register in order to vote in next year’s elections.
She said this as her office continues to run programmes aimed at ensuring that citizens know the importance of voting, which include last week’s visit to different parts of Durban.
She said the programme, which will be next held in uMgungundlovu district, was adopted by the legislature in 2019.
“The legislature adopted a civic education programme. This happens every year preceding the elections. So in 2020 we had the same programme, and now we have been to eThekwini,” she said.
She cited Mangosuthu University of Technology where they started in July, uMlazi Township V Section and Mega City Shopping Centre.
In August the programme moved to Cato Crest in KwaNyuswa taxi rank before it was conducted in Bridge City and JL Dube Stadium north of Durban. According to Boyce, carrying out such a programme was made easier by the involvement of other partners.
“We are doing this in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC). DHA is issuing IDs for those who will be 18 next May as well as those who have lost them. The IEC then provides voter registration for all who qualify provided they have a valid ID, and also those who have changed their addresses,” she said.
Boyce expressed optimism that by the time of going to the polls next year, those seeking to vote who had challenges will have these sorted out owing to the partnership between the Legislature, DHA and IEC.