Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma today Friday 4 March 2011 called on South Africans to apply for IDs which would allow them to register to vote in Local Government Elections to be held on 18 May this year.
“South Africans can access the services of the Department this weekend Saturday and Sunday 5 to 6 March 2011 when our officials will be working extended hours from 08h00 to 17h00 during the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IECs) final registration weekend,” said Minister Dlamini Zuma.
Minister Dlamini Zuma was speaking during the launch of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Stakeholder Form and National Population Register Campaign in Masamini, KZN where she was joined by the Premier of KZN Dr Zweli Mkhize and MEC for Social Development Dr Meshack Radebe.
Minister Dlamini Zuma continued, “The IEC which holds the mandate to ensure free, fair and credible elections, is one of the country’s legal institutions that supports the work of the department.”
“Accordingly, and in line with our constitutional mandate, the department is committed to ensuring South Africans are issued with valid ID documents through which they can register to vote in Local Government Elections in May this year.”
“We appeal to youth who are 16 years and older to apply for your ID documents. Not only does it enable you to exercise your democratic right to vote, it equally gives you access to other social services provided by government.”
Minister Dlamini Zuma also reiterated the importance of the need to register babies within 30 days of birth while emphasising the importance for those who are 16 years and above to apply for the IDs.
Finally, Minister Dlamini Zuma expressed the hope that the citizens of KZN would feel confident to seek assistance from and interact with the newly launched Stakeholder Forum which was established in line with government’s commitment to ensuring “the people shall govern” to allow communities access to the processes of government in a direct manner.
