Pretoria- Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chairperson, Dr Brigalia Bam, has urged all registered voters to go out and make their mark on Wednesday.
Shortly after casting her special vote at Laerskool Lynnwood, Pretoria East, where she is registered, Bam said: “For me, it was a wonderful experience; I have never cast a special vote before, it was so quick, this is a wonderful feeling.
“By voting as a South African, I am part of this transformation in our country. To me, voting becomes emotional. My parents never got this opportunity; so I am urging South Africans not to miss this great experience.”
More than 23 million registered voters will elect their municipal councillors in the country’s fourth democratic municipal elections on Wednesday.
Voters living in one of South Africa’s eight metropolitan councils will receive a yellow ballot paper to vote for a party, and a white ballot paper to vote for a ward councillor.
The 2011 municipal elections kicked-off with special votes on Monday morning, where more than 20 000 eligible voters were expected to cast their special votes.
Bam said the IEC was also keeping its fingers crossed that the weather would not disrupt proceedings on Wednesday and keep voters indoors.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed for good weather on Election Day because the bad weather might deter voters from turning out in their numbers.”
Bam urged all registered voters to go out and vote for their preferred municipal leadership on Wednesday.
IEC Chief Electoral Officer, Advocate Pansy Tlakula, cast her special vote at Orange Grove Primary School in Johannesburg on Monday morning. -Nthambeleni Gabara, BuaNews
