South Africa's government is pushing for a big turnout in Wednesday's local government elections. President Cyril Ramaphosa called on registered voters to take part, SAnews.gov.za reported. He said their votes could help build better communities and strengthen local government.
Approved special votes are being cast on Monday and Tuesday. Voters may vote only at the station where they registered. The Electoral Commission has urged them to check their voting station details before election day. They can do so by sending their ID number via WhatsApp to 0600 88 0000 or by SMS to 32810, at R1 per SMS. The reply gives the station name and their sequence number on the voters' roll. This helps officials find them faster.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni made a direct appeal to young people. She spoke after leading the Kliptown leg of the government's #LoveYourStreet campaign, where she handed over refuse bins and planted trees. She recalled young people who died in the struggle for freedom, including Solomon Mahlangu, Tsietsi Mashinini and Hector Pieterson. "Freedom is meaningful only when we build on it, and rights are meaningful only when we exercise and strengthen them," she said.
Ntshavheni told voters to choose councillors who will tackle their communities' needs. She warned against backing a councillor who serves only personal interests. Instead, she said, voters should pick someone they can hold accountable. She also said that law enforcement agencies would be deployed to keep the vote safe.
In municipal elections, voters choose representatives and parties to sit on municipal councils. Elected councillors are responsible for improving communities and making sure residents receive services.
The run-up to the vote has also raised concern online. AllAfrica reported that social media is carrying unverified claims of election rigging, along with posts blaming foreign nationals. According to AllAfrica, this has raised fears that online hostility could spill into tensions at polling stations.
The Daily Nation reported that a splintering vote is setting up a multi-party battle for South Africa's cities.