POLOKWANE – At the launch, Provincial Electoral Officer (PEO), Nkaro Mateta spoke about the preparations and readiness of the province for the elections. She encouraged citizens to vote to in order to choose a government that represents their wishes for the next five years. “When citizens vote, they are in fact engaging in an act of constitutionalism, they are reaffirming our status as a vibrant, constitutional democracy,” she said.

She shared that over the past 18 months, the electoral commission has been laying the ground work for this year’s elections but says one of the challenges they faced has been updating the voters roll in line with the ruling of the constitutional courts, that a valid address needs to be part of a voters particulars.

Mateta shared that there has been significant improvement in updating of voters information, she however added that there is still a long way to go. Also present was commissioner Mosotho Moepya who gave a keynote address regarding the expectations of this year’s election and Dr Phophi Ramathuba who gave a message of support on behalf of Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha. The commission staff was also pledged at the event.

The dates for final voter registration is 26 and 27 January from 8h00 to 15h00 for first time voters to register and existing voters to check their registration details and make updates.

Registered voters can visit the Electoral Commission website to check their current registration details and voting station location. Read more about it in next week’s Bonus.

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