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NEWS
ELECTIONS Last chance to registrate for municipal elections
Understand the process KARIN VAN DEN HEEVER
U
nless you’ve been living in a cave you would know that the municipal elections are coming up. If you haven’t registered to vote and seem a bit confused about the entire ordeal, here are a few guidelines to assist you on your way to the registration booth. The municipal elections are held every five years to elect council members that will be responsible for governing a municipality. The current term of office of the municipal council ends on 18 May. The exact date of the 2016 municipal elections have not been confirmed, however, in terms of the constitution, the election must be held between 18 May and 16 August 2016. Elected councillors will be responsible for ensuring services that impact the daily lives of citizens like yourself. These services include water, electricity and sanitation in towns, cities, districts as well as metropolitan areas. The second and last registration opportunity will be this weekend (9 and 10 April) from 08:00 to 17:00. There are five registration venues in Stellenbosch namely, Coetzenburg, Stellenbosch Town Hall, Stellenbosch High School, Eikestad Primary School and Christ Church hall. For more specific directions, you can use the IEC voting station finder on http://maps.elections.org.za/vsfinder/.
So why vote? Here is what your fellow Maties had to say...
Sokata Lebotse
Dean Sadler
Mat thew Snyman BA Humanities II
BCom Investments II
“I thought this election wasn’t as important, but I realised that we spend the majority of our time here and that the policies implemented do affect us. We should get involved to make a necessary change.”
“As highlighted by the recent Nkandla events, it is clearly important to choose your leaders wisely. Most people think voting is ineffective, but it is necessary to make a difference for our futures.”
“I want to feel involved. Now that I am older I can take the responsibility to make my own political decisions. I don’t have to follow what my parents choose. I can decide for myself.”
“People want to distance themselves from politics, especially because there is so much of it here. But we need to get involved. It is the only way we can make a change in the country.”
Agri-Economics II
LLB IV
Pablo Matlale
Here are some guidelines to the registration process: Who can register? – South African citizens – 16 Years of age (You can only vote from the age of 18 though) – If you have a green, bar-coded ID book, smartcard ID, or a temporary identity certificate. What do you need to bring along? – Yourself (You must register in person) – Your green, bar-coded ID book, smartcard ID, or temporary identity certificate. When and where can you register? – You can make an appointment to apply for registration during office hours at the local IEC office responsible for your voting district, i.e. the office closest to home.
Nick Archibald BA Humanities I
Mechatronic Engineering IV
Antonio Teixeira
Fabio Tollon
Micah Conley
“Voting is the only way we as citizens can make a change if it’s needed, which it certainly is.”
“People believe that their tiny, little votes won’t matter, but without those tiny, little votes, there cannot be a whole for change to occur.”
“Democracy doesn’t work because it caters for the lowest common denominator.”
“It’s important to have a voice in this country. Instead of protesting, you can make yourself heard by participating in elections.”
Juandre Roussouw
Lisa Koenze BA Humanities I
BA Language and Culture III
Barry Tout
Tessa Collington-O’Malley
“It’s important to vote so that I can say that I tried to make a change. I did my part.”
“If you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to complain.”
“If voting made a difference, they wouldn’t let us.”
“If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.”
BA PPE IV
BA Humanities I
What happens when you apply? – Go to your local IEC Office – Fill in an application form Your ID Book is scanned – A bar-coded sticker is pasted in your ID Book or on your valid temporary identity certificate. If you have a smartcard ID, you will receive a separate page with your sticker on. How do you know if you are registered? – Your application for registration will take up to seven working days. – You can send a SMS with your ID number to 32810 (R1,00 per SMS) – Check your registration details online, at your voting station during office hours or your local IEC Office.
BA Development II
BA Language and Culture III