Bright Ntuli
Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, is encouraging South Africans, particularly young people, to exercise their democratic right and vote in the November local government elections.
A total of 142-thousand-and-72 candidates have been nominated to contest ten-thousand-526 council seats across municipalities.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Local Government Elections has expressed satisfaction with preparations for the upcoming polls.
Mhlauli says young people have an important role to play in shaping the future of their communities.
“We are currently 32 years into our democratic dispensation and all of the strides that we have made in the past 32 years is because of those that have fought for this hard earned democracy,” said Mhlauli.
She added “Also, ultimately those that have participated in the democratic systems over the past 32 years. So young people, go out, make sure that you participate and make sure that you vote on the 4th of November.”
According to the IEC, more than 50% of youth aged between 20-29 have not registered to vote for in the upcoming election.
Despite the increase in the total number of new registrations, a significant amount of young South Africans still show hesitance in their belief in the democratic right to elect their local leaders.
Click below to listen to Mhlauli’s audio
