Majority of new registered voters were youth

By Yamkela Xhaso
17 February

At a media briefing today the Independent Electoral Commission has revealed that in the latest voter registration weekends, the one in November 2008 and February 2009, more than 70 percent of those registered were between the ages of 16 and 29 years old.

From the IEC were CEO Patsy Tlakula, Terry Tselane, Vannie van der Merwe , Mosotho Molepya deputy CEO and Steven Lantry.

From the political parties briefed were Miss Maunye, NF Mathibela and Windvoel Skosana from the ANC.

Steve Swart represented ACDP, Mark Lowe from DA Mrs I Mars from IFP and Mr Ms Mfundisis from UCDP.

Chairperson of the Electoral Committee Patrick Chauke thanked political parties for the vigorous campaigning. CEO of the IEC Patsy Tlakula said Gauteng had the largest number of voter registration turnout.

Tlakula said that in the past registration activity has been low in urban areas. Meanwhile North West was announced as the only province where more men registered than women.

Tlakula said this was good because it was worrying that men did not want to participate from elections. But after the final weekend registration 51 percent registered were men and 48 percent were women.

Most of the people who registered in that weekend were between the ages of 16 and 29 years that is 78 percent of the total number of voter registration.