The Electoral
Commission (IEC) and the University of Witwatersrand (Wits University) have
launched a unique partnership with the youth at tertiary institutions to grow youth
participation in electoral democracy and encouraging them to register to vote.
The voter education
campaign was launched on the steps of the Wits Great Hall at a ceremony
attended by Wits students, Electoral Commission Chief Electoral Officer Sy
Mamabolo, Wits Dean of Students Jerome September, and the leadership of the Wits
Student Representative Council (SRC).
The campaign is
designed to encourage students to be active, engaged and responsible citizens
of South Africa’s democracy, as well as make it easier for university students
to go online and register to vote.
It objectives also
include:
Enabling an understanding and exercising of youth’s civic and democratic
rights and responsibilities.
Growing an empowered electorate within the student population.
Cultivating a culture of democracy and active citizenry in the student
community.
Increasing voter registration in the student population.
Enhanced voter participation in both SRC elections and national,
provincial and local elections.
Mamabolo said the
Electoral Commission was proud to launch the important partnership with Wits students
during Human Rights month 2022.
“The primary aim
of this campaign is to cultivate and instil a culture of electoral democracy
and active citizenry among students in both the public and private institutions
of higher learning, and to enhance voter registration and voter participation
in both SRC elections and in national, provincial and local government
elections.
“It is our
firm belief that engaging
students’ views about democracy and elections through voter education based
dialogue will enhance voter participation among this particular group of the
electorate population,” Mamabolo said.
September said: “This
partnership between the IEC and Wits University is important because
universities are spaces that shape society and shapes the future. By partnering
with the IEC we are coming together in building our nation and ensuring that
young people who will be leaders in society going forward actively participate,
register to vote in a way that shapes our future and builds our democracy.”
SRC Deputy President
Lesego Louw, on behalf of the “Witsies”, as the student population is popularly
known, said:
“Voting for me
is the loudest decision I make in silence. It is young people and young people-led organisations that will lead to
change in South Africa and the Africa continent. It is young people who have
led us and will continue to lead us through generational revolutions as agent
of progress and bridges to the communities.”
“It is the youth of 1976 who
spearheaded the Soweto uprising and validated the importance of and the right
to education. It is the youth of ‘Fees Must Fall’ and ‘Asinamali’ who asserted
the importance of access to higher education and signified the role of young
women leaders. It is you, the youth in front of me, who, in ten years’ time, in
2032, will embark on the generational mission to combat rampant youth
unemployment, champion against gender-based violence, the marginalisation of
the LBTQ+ community, and normalise youth participation in democracy. We are an
undeniable force of power that is to be reckoned with,” said Louw.
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Ensuring free, fair and credible
elections
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