WATCH: A million visited polling stations to register

“Initial estimates for registration activities yesterday [Saturday] showed that approximately one million people visited voting stations to register, update their registration details, and re-register at new and changed voting districts,” the IEC said in a statement.

“The electoral commission is pleased to report that almost all voting stations were open today [Sunday] with fewer than 20 voting stations out of the country’s 22,569 voting stations still experiencing glitches which were being attended to as at midday.”

The IEC said it continued talks with stakeholders in areas where voting stations were experiencing problems due to protests.

“These areas include Vuwani in Limpopo, where eight voting stations out of 45 were still closed earlier today [Sunday], voting stations in ward 60 in Ethekwini, and two in Weenen in KwaZulu-Natal.”

“Furthermore, two voting stations in Khayelitsha in the Western Cape and four voting stations in Thabankulu in the Eastern Cape, and two in GaMothibi, NorthWest [were closed]. No effort is being spared in the quest to ensure that voters are provided with the opportunity to register.”

The second day of voter registration saw police deployed at protest-hit and volatile areas in some parts of the country, where protesters barred IEC officials from registering voters.

The IEC urged those who had not yet registered to do so before cut-off time at 5pm.

“With just a few hours remaining for this weekend’s voter registration, the commission is urging all eligible voters to make every effort to visit their voting station before they close at 5pm. While voter registration will still be possible during office hours at local IEC offices in each municipality, until the municipal elections are proclaimed, this weekend’s registration is the most convenient and accessible way for voters to register at their local voting stations.”