Cape Town South Africa

Calling All Capetonians!

Actually, what we are writing about today affects all South Africans.

We are of course talking about South Africa’s voter registration which takes place nationwide this weekend, 8 & 9 November 2008.

Hot on the heels of Obama’s election as US President, which has unleashed a worldwide mania reminiscent of the Madiba magic experienced following South Africa’s first democratic election in April 1994, we’re hoping that the large voter turnout on Tuesday in the United States will somehow be contagious and inspire South Africans to also affect change by exercising their right to vote.

After all, we’ve done it before!

So let’s end apathy! Drag everyone you know to become a registered voter this weekend!

If you are a South African citizen over the age of 16 with a valid ID, here’s how to become a registered voter this weekend:

• Register in person at the voting station in the voting district where you live during general voter registration. This means that, if you have moved since the last election, you have to register again.
  You can call the IEC Call Centre on 080011 8000 to check where to register at your voting station.
  Or click this link (http://www.elections.org.za/searchVD.asp) which is designed to assist a voter to find a map of the correct voting station at which he or she should register and vote. (Note that the Independent Electoral Committee’s website is, annoyingly, only compatible with Internet Explorer (4 and up), but they are working to fix this gross oversight.)
• Voter registration weekend is this weekend, 8-9 November 2008. Voting stations open at 08:00 and stay open until 17:00.
• Register any time during business hours at your local Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
• Find a List of Municipal Electoral Officers on the IEC website under contact details or go to this link (http://www.elections.org.za/Contact.asp)
• Take your ID with you.
• Complete the relevant application form.
• The registration officer will attach a sticker in your ID with the voting district’s number on it.
• You are responsible for checking your details on the voters roll before an election.
• SMS your ID to 32810 to check whether you are registered.