Voting in a municipal by-election may not seem important to many, but this is where residents have the power to choose who will be leading them from a political point of view.
During the local government elections on 27 October, registered voters will be casting their votes to determine their ward councillor, local ruling party and ultimately the mayor of the City of Johannesburg. If you are not happy with your current leadership, your best chance for change is by voting. If you are happy with your community’s leadership, you still need to vote to make sure that they are not replaced. A vote not cast is a vote for the opposition.
First-time voters will be able to register at an IEC Registration Drive which will be held on 17 and 18 July, as you cannot register online to vote. Your ID book or Smart ID card will be required at your voting station on the registration weekend and on voting day. Driver’s licences will not be accepted.
Current voters who need to update their information can do so online, or at the relevant voting station on that weekend. It is imperative that you are registered at the correct voting station, because unlike national elections, you will only be able to vote at the station you are registered at. Ward 97 councillor, Leah Knott explained that in her ward alone, there are at least 14 000 people who are either not registered, or registered in the wrong ward, so checking your correct voting station is extremely important. Council is made up of 270 seats, including 135 ward councillors, and 135 PR councillors, so the people you elect will represent you in council. “Local government is directly responsible for your basic services, and voting ensures that your party of choice is correctly represented in council to champion your needs and wants,” said Leah.
You can check your address and voting station here: https://maps.elections.org.za/vsfinder/?p_VDNumber=32860571
If you are a registered voter and need to update your information, you can do so at this link: https://www.elections.org.za/MyIEC/Account/Register
Here are the voting stations per ward:
Ward 70:
• Hoërskool Florida
• Florida Park High School
• Florida Primary School
• Moth Hall
• Donovan McDonald Old Age Home
• Fleurhof Recreation Centre
• Fleurhof Primary School
• Future Nation School in Fleurhof
Ward 71:
• Hoërskool Die Adelaar
• Lantern School
• Roodebeeck Primary School
• Laerskool Culembeeck
• Davidsonville Community Centre
Ward 83:
• West Rand Lutheran Church
• NG Kerk Roodekrans
• Klein Helderkruin Retirement Centre
• Laerskool Helderkruin
• Laerskool Roodekrans
Ward 84:
• Discovery Recreation Centre
• Roodepark School
• Joshua Naude School
• Hoërskool Roodepoort
• Roodepoort City Hall
• Gauteng West College
• Laerskool Die Ruiter Primary
Ward 85:
• Kloofendal Ecological Centre
• Strubens Valley Library
• A tent at the Little Falls Nature Reserve
• Biokinetics Centre on Pheasant Street
• Lebogang Crèche on Plot 61
• Laerskool Horison
• Gereformeerde Kerk on Philips Avenue
Ward 89:
• Caterpillar Clubhouse (CCH) preschool
• Panorama Primary School
• Constantia Kloof Primary School
• Laerskool Fairland
• Cliffview Primary School
Ward 97:
• Ruimsig Stadium
• PLG Mellow Oaks Academy
• Steve Jobs School
• Charterhouse School
• Panorama Sports Club
Ward 100:
• Sgodiphola Secondary School
• Itsoseng Development Trust
• Cosmo City Fire Station
• Far North High School
• Grace Bible Church
• Cosmo Ext 3 Church
• Cosmo Christian Centre
• Tirisano Mmogo Primary School
Ward 114:
• Masakhane Tswelopele Primary School
• Tent at Boundary Road
• Magagula Church
• Zandspruit Primary School
• Happy Kidz Night & Day Care
Ward 126:
• Allen Glen High School
• Weltevreden Park Primary School
• Boskop Primary School
