The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has launched its nationwide voter registration weekend, giving residents an opportunity to register and update their details ahead of the local government elections scheduled for November 4, 2026.

Registration centres opened on June 20 and 21 from 08:00 to 17:00. Despite chilly conditions, residents turned out at voting stations across Eldorado Park and Kliptown to ensure they were ready to cast their ballots.

Soweto Urban visited several voting districts in the area to observe the registration process and speak to residents about their expectations for the upcoming elections.

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Among those registering was 29-year-old first-time voter Roshan Smith, who said recent challenges in her community prompted her to become more involved in the democratic process.

Originally from Kliptown and now living in Eldorado Park, Smith said she had never paid much attention to elections until repeated power outages affected residents after a transformer failure caused by overloading at Sneeuberg Court in B-section.

Reflecting on why she had not voted before, Smith said she had previously been disconnected from community issues.

“I was living in my own world at that time,” she said.

She added that witnessing individuals and organisations providing food and support to struggling families during difficult periods inspired her to register.

“It made me very happy because not many of us have food at night. That was something major for many households,” said Smith.

Looking ahead to the municipal elections, she said job creation should be a top priority.

“For us, it’s job opportunities because many of the crimes and things happening are because there’s no employment in our communities.”

“There are many young people sitting at home with qualifications but there are no jobs for us,” she said.

Another resident, Igshaan Barnes from Extension Two, said he almost missed the registration weekend after forgetting about it until a family member reminded him.

“I saw information about the registration online during the week, but I forgot about it. My sister called me and reminded me that registration ends tomorrow, so I had to come,” he said.

Barnes, who uses a wheelchair, said he was relieved to discover that his voting station was much closer to his home than expected.

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“I was worried because I normally register at EW Hobbs Primary School and I didn’t have anyone to help me get there. When I came here, they assisted me and now I know that when I vote, it’s just across the road from where I live,” he said.

He described the registration process as smooth and efficient.

“Everything went well. In fact, it was 100%,” he said.

Barnes also identified unemployment and poverty as major challenges facing local communities.

“The biggest change I want to see is employment.”

“Poverty is one of the main reasons for crime.”

“People go out looking for opportunities and when they don’t find them, some end up turning to crime just to survive,” he said.

Resident Maryse Brown attended the registration weekend with several family members, including children, saying it was important to teach younger generations about civic participation.

“We must show them the ropes. They must know to register and vote,” she said.

Brown praised the registration process and the officials assisting residents.

“The staff were very friendly. We walked in, they greeted us and assisted us. It was very easy,” she said.

She hopes the elections will lead to improvements in safety, service delivery and efforts to combat drugs and violent crime.

“People get killed every weekend. We hope our vote counts this time and brings real change to our community,” she said.

Katlin Janet Maurice, who visited a voting station to verify her registration details, also commended the efficiency of the process.

“It went well. It was efficient and very fast. The officials asked the right questions and helped us with the right information,” she said.

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Maurice encouraged residents to take advantage of the registration weekend and ensure their details are up to date.

“People should come and check their status because some of our details may have changed. It’s important to ensure that the IEC has the correct information,” she said.

The voter registration weekend continues on June 21, offering eligible residents a final opportunity to register or update their information ahead of the November municipal elections.