Registration officials assisted 97,211 voters at all 1,604 voting stations during the two-day drive. The province recorded 14,621 new registrations, while 51,955 voters re-registered in the same voting district and 30,635 changed voting districts, said IEC spokesperson Itumeleng Rasengane.

Young voters accounted for 22,143 registration transactions during the weekend. This included 3,265 people aged 16 and 17, 2,322 aged 18 to 21, and 16,566 aged 20 to 29, reflecting strong participation among younger eligible and future voters.

Eligible voters who missed the registration weekend can still register or update their details online before the registration period closes at midnight on Friday (7/8). The IEC is expanding its digital registration options to make the process more accessible and convenient.

Voters can now also register or update their details through WhatsApp. The platform uses one-time password authentication, identity document uploads, address verification, and voting station confirmation to protect the integrity of the voters’ roll and verify applicants securely.

Accurate address information remains essential during registration. Some voters using WhatsApp may be redirected to the interactive map on the Online Voter Registration platform to locate and confirm the rooftop position of their home address, Rasengane said.

The IEC believes widely available digital platforms will allow more eligible voters to register or update their information before Friday’s deadline. Voters have been urged not to wait until the last minute, as late increases in activity could place unnecessary pressure on registration channels.

The commission will now focus on preparations for Election Day following the completion of the two registration weekends. The formal election timetable will begin once the municipal elections are proclaimed and will determine deadlines for the remaining electoral processes.

These processes include candidate nominations, the certification of the voters’ roll, and other preparations leading up to voting day on 4 November. The IEC has also reported progress with its Online Candidate Nomination System ahead of the proclamation.

More than 93 independent candidates and 87 political parties have already started using the candidate nomination platform. The system enables prospective candidates and political parties to begin preparing their submissions before the formal nomination deadlines are announced.

Voters can check their registration status by sending their identity number to the SMS line 32810. Assistance is also available through the IEC contact centre on 0800 11 8000 and its WhatsApp registration and support line on 0600 088 000.

OFM News/KekeletsoMosebetsi dg

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