IEC is challenging political parties to come out stronger to convince young people to register for the upcoming elections.
As statistics show that 70% of eligible young people are unregistered to vote, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has called on political parties to up their game in convincing them to register, almost five months before the November local government elections.
The IEC revealed during its voter education campaign launch at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg that a huge number of young people between the ages of 18 and 19 are not registered.
According to its voter registration statistics, 11.3 million young people, between the ages of 18 and 39, are registered to vote of which 4.6 million of them are between the ages of 18 and 29.
KwaZulu-Natal IEC spokesperson Thabani Ngwira said the survey states that young people highlight high rates of unemployment, lack of service delivery, and a weak economy as reasons not to participate in elections.
