IEC, parties hoping for large turnout on voter registration weekend

It's an opportunity for South Africans who are eligible to vote but aren't yet registered voters to add their names to the voter's roll. 

This will allow them to take part in the local government elections later in this year.

KwaZulu-Natal Electoral Officer Mawethu Mosery says first-time voters should make full use of this opportunity.

"We also encourage every other citizen who has changed residence in the last two years to go and register where they now reside," he said.    

Political parties have been preparing for the weekend, with some having already hit the ground running.

The ANC descended on Market Road in the Durban CBD today, rallying locals to register for the upcoming municipal polls. 

The party's provincial spokesperson, Mdumiseni Ntuli says members will also be out in full force on Saturday and Sunday.

"We'll be going door-to-door, doing house visits and talking to people who may just be gathering for various activities within their communities," Ntuli said.

The DA says it plans to paint the province blue, with each and every member of the opposition party also on the ground this weekend.

Its eThekwini mayoral candidate, Haniff Hoosen says he and his team will be spread across the Durban.

"So we're going to be descending on the entire Durban area this weekend, reminding people that if they want to bring about a change in this city, then this is an opportunity for them to get out and register to vote - because if they don't participate as a voter, they won't be able to change the lives or the future of their children," Hoosen said.

The EFF's Vusi Khoza says they started their preparations months ago, with road shows and visits to high schools and higher learning institutions. 

"We are appealing to the people of KwaZulu-Natal in particular and South Africa at large to go out in their numbers and register to vote, particularly the youth who'll be voting for the first time. This is so that they can exercise their rights through voting," Khoza said.

Meanwhile NFP's Nhlanhla Khawula says it is of utmost importance for the public to make their way to voting stations this weekend.

"We have launched our volunteer programme and these volunteers and party agents will be all over the voting stations encouraging people to register to vote," Khawula said.

"We are urging all people to go out and vote because it's their democratic right to vote [in the municipal elections later this year]," he added.

Voting stations will open at 8am and close at 5pm for voter registration tomorrow and Sunday.