The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) appeared in the news twice last week, each time with controversy. 

The number of registered voters in KwaZulu-Natal, it was reported, has since 2006 slid by a staggering 400,000 to 3.7 million. At the time of the last local government elections two years ago the provincial voters’ roll contained 4.1 million names. The reasons given by the IEC for this conspicuous slump were deaths and migration from the province. 

We in the IFP duly expressed our concern about the latest tally. We were particularly alarmed by the slow pace of registration of new voters by the IEC, reportedly by only 3000 a month. 

The second media report had to do with financial irregularities at the IEC pointed out by the Auditor General. The main transgressions were flawed tendering processes. 

The IFP contends that, as one of our Constitution’s best funded Chapter 9 institutions, the IEC must do a lot more to add new voters to the voters’ roll in KwaZulu-Natal. If the Commission fails to radically increase the number of new voter registrations, KwaZulu-Natal is set to record the lowest level of voter participation since the advent of democracy in 1994. 

As matters stand now, I argue that it would be irresponsible to leave the task of registering new voters to the IEC alone. Although the ultimate responsibility for voter registration rests with the Commission, there is nothing to stop the IFP - as a political party - to conduct our own aggressive voter registration drive. 

My appeal therefore is to the members of the public who require assistance with ID documents and voter registration to seek help from IFP public representatives and constituency offices in the areas where they reside.

The 2009 election is around the corner and those citizens who do not possess valid ID books and have not registered as voters will not be able to participate.

Dr Lionel Mtshali

Leader of the Official Opposition

Contact: Dr Lionel Mtshali, 083 256 4902