Record Turnout: 2.9 Million South Africans Register to Vote Nationwide

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) proudly announced today that the significant turnout of 2.9 million registered voters over the past weekend is a resounding endorsement of citizens’ commitment to electoral democracy.

Mr. Sy Mamabolo, Chief Electoral Officer for the IEC, conveyed his gratitude during a press briefing, acknowledging the substantial number of individuals who registered in preparation for the 2024 provincial and national elections.

“The electoral commission is pleased to report that it has interacted with 2.9 million voters, demonstrating South African voters’ strong support for electoral democracy,” said Mamabolo.

Highlighting the growing use of digital platforms, Mamabolo shared that 196,000 voters utilized the online platform which was introduced in July.

He commended the efficiency of this digital tool, making registration and confirmation processes more accessible for citizens.

“The efficiency of the Voter Management Devices (VMD) has increased the speed at which applications are processed. Before the introduction of the VMD, it would take months to process address details,”Mamabolo said.

According to IEC, the VMD processed 834,000 live transactions, with an additional 1.8 million captured and later transmitted.

Among the registered voters, 568,374 were first-time voters, with a significant portion being youth aged between 16 and 29.

Furthermore, Mamabolo highlighted that 298,000 registrations were by females, indicating a growing commitment among women to exercise their voting rights in preparation for the 2024 elections.

The top three provinces with the highest registration activity were Gauteng with 610,948, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) with 559,933, and Eastern Cape with 516,547.

Despite the success in the registration process, the IEC reported several disruptions in various locations. Incidents included a shooting during taxi violence in the Vaal, Soweto residents disrupting registration due to power issues, and some stations lacking proper temporary facilities for a smooth and safe registration process.

Mr. Mamabolo addressed these challenges, assuring the public that a second registration weekend would be announced soon to accommodate those who could not register during the initial period.

“We have received reports of stations where people could not vote, but there will be a second registration weekend, and we also have an online platform that can be used 24/7,” Mamabolo assured.

Expressing gratitude, the IEC acknowledged South Africans for utilizing various platforms, including WhatsApp, to check their registration or confirm their applications.

The commission remains committed to ensuring a fair and inclusive electoral process leading up to the 2024 elections.