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Home Affairs extends operating hours for IEC voter registration weekend

todayJune 19, 2026 16

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Image Credit: SAGovnews / X

The Department of Home Affairs has urged South Africans to take advantage of the Voter Registration Weekend after announcing the extension of operating hours nationwide, saying there is “no excuse” for citizens not to register ahead of the Electoral Commission’s registration drive on 20 and 21 June.

The Department says its offices will be open from 8am until 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday to assist eligible citizens in obtaining identity documents needed to register to vote.

Home Affairs also revealed that more than 370,000 Smart ID cards remain uncollected at offices across the country, and has called on citizens to collect their documents to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

“By extending operating hours nationwide during Voter Registration Weekend, Home Affairs is making it easier for citizens to obtain the Smart ID Cards they need to register and participate in our democracy,” said Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber. 

Meanwhile, the IEC says it is ready for the registration weekend, with more than 23,706 voting stations set up nationwide and 48,212 staff members deployed to assist eligible voters. 

Eligible voters will be able to update their details ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

IEC Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mambolo, said while about 28 million South Africans are expected to participate in the upcoming elections, voter apathy remains a concern, with around 34,000 voters removed monthly due to mortality.

Addressing a briefing on Thursday, Mamabolo urged citizens to use the two-day registration period to update their details, particularly their voting address.

“In a local government election, voters vote in the voting district in which they are registered. There is no statutory mechanism to vote outside of the voting district in which you are registered. This has been part of the framework since the establishment of democratic local government in 2000. The abiding and operational principle in that regard is that a voter cannot vote for a ward counsellor in a ward in which they do not reside,” stressed Mambolo. 

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    Home Affairs extends operating hours for IEC voter registration weekend Realeboga Nke

Mambolo added that voters will need an identity document to register to vote, including a Smart ID, green ID book or a temporary ID certificate, and said proof of address is not required.

“The voter registration weekend takes place during youth month and when we celebrate 50 years of the June 16. This is a period in which South African’s honour the pivotal role played by young people in shaping the country’s democratic journey. The commission reaffirms a commitment to advancing the aspirations of young persons both as voters as well as candidates in the forthcoming election,” said Mamabolo. 

Written by: Realeboga Nke

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