Home Affairs’ offices will be open this weekend for ID collections

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The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will be hosting its voter registration weekend on Saturday and Sunday across the country. IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo has expressed his gratitude to Home Affairs as well as the Department of Basic Education.

Basic Education has moved the start of the matric exams to October 27, to accommodate voting day on the 1st of November.

Home Affairs on the other hand will open its offices this coming weekend for people to collect ID documents.

“We have taken note and welcomed the decision by the Department of Home Affairs to open their offices over the weekend this will facilitate the collection of identity documents as well as the acquisition of the temporary identification certificate which can be used for the registration process. The Commission has noted with gratitude the decision of the Minister of Basic Education to adjust the senior certificate timetable, this gesture will enable young voters who are writing these examinations to participate in the elections,”  Mamabolo says.

Voters will have until Monday to ensure they are registered for the 1 November local government elections. In a last push ahead of the elections, the IEC will open its approximately 23 000 registration stations across the country this Saturday and Sunday between 8am and 5pm.

Voters can register or amend their details if they have moved. Mamabolo says that potential voters can also make use of the IEC’s online registration portal to register and confirm their registrations on the Commission’s App, contact centre or website.

Voting stations across the country will be open on the 18th and 19th of September to enable those wishing to participate in the November 1 election to register or amend their details if they have moved or changed address.

“The online registration system will remain open until the date of the proclamation of elections which we expect on Monday 20th of September 2021. Voters who are registered can confirm their registration online on the website on the IEC App or by calling the call centre at 0800 11 8000 furthermore an identity number can be sent to 32180 via the short messaging system SMS,” Mamabolo explains.

Mamabolo says the IEC has written to Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to request him to facilitate a request to the President that Election Day on 1 November be declared a public holiday.

VIDEO: LGE 2021 | State of readiness ahead of the voter registration weekend: Sy Mamabolo