Council meeting
28 January 2009
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele has urged those citizens of
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), who have not yet registered to vote for the forthcoming
elections, to ensure that they do so during the final voter registration
weekend on 7 and 8 February 2009.
Premier Ndebele made the call at the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Executive Council (Cabinet) first ordinary meeting of the year held today
(Wednesday, 28 January 2009) in Pietermaritzburg. The Executive Council meeting
follows the annual January Cabinet Lekgotla which took place in Pretoria from
20 to 22 January 2009.
"Democracy is entrenched in our constitution and voting is one of our basic
rights which we must use to choose our leaders. Therefore, all of us - women,
men, workers, youth, professionals, people with disabilities, traditional
leaders, religious communities, business people and rural communities - must
register to vote and utilise the opportunities that have come with our freedom.
Those who have not, as yet, collected their identity documents (IDs) from home
affairs should immediately do so. Please make use of this final opportunity on
7 and 8 February 2009 and register to vote because we believe the credibility
and authenticity of the voters' roll depends on the participation of all South
Africans."
"We also call upon registered voters to verify the status of their
registration. We urge the media, religious institutions, business, trade unions
and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to embark on a campaign to popularise
the voters' roll, which is a cornerstone of our democracy. We should not only
register to vote, but we must also ensure that we actually cast our vote. Each
one of us can play a meaningful role in strengthening our democracy through our
secret vote," said the premier.
Matters noted by the Executive Council at the meeting included:
* Report on the forthcoming elections by the Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC).
* Report on the decrease in the number of road crashes and criminal incidents
in the province during the past festive season, as compared to previous years,
by the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the KZN Department of
Transport.
* Report on the recent natural disasters in the province by the KZN Department
of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.
* Report on global warming and climate change by the KZN Department of
Agriculture and Environmental Affairs and the South African Weather
Service.
* Provincial official funeral of Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi on 31 January
2009.
* Support campaign by various artists and celebrities, including celebrities
from Generations, Muvhango, Scandal and Rhythm, for victims of the recent
natural disasters in the province to be hosted in Pietermaritzburg from 30
January to 1 February 2009.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
28 January 2009
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kwazulunatal.gov.za)
