[full]Johannesburg – In 2009′s national elections, 43% of eligible South Africans did not vote, and if just half of these non-voters had voted against the ruling ANC party, the ANC would have lost, said the FF Plus political party leader, Pieter Moulder, in a statement on Friday.
“In our electoral system every vote counts. That is why voters should vote for the party whose values are closest to his or her own,” said Moulder. “If the public, in large numbers, vote against the ANC, changes in the country can be made. That is why it is so important to register to vote this weekend.”
Earlier on Friday it was announced that this year’s national elections will be held on 7 May.
“It is significant that the election is to be held shortly after Freedom Day on 27 April, and Workers Day on 1 May,” said Moulder. “The hope would then be that the emotions which are aroused about 1994 will spill over to the advantage of the ANC’s election campaign.”
Moulder cited the importance of registering to vote, even though one did not plan to vote in the elections:
“If one is registered one can always at a later date decide not to vote. If however one is not registered and in the heat of the election fight shortly before the election one decides to vote, the opportunity would be lost.”
The Independent Election Commission (IEC) will hold a nation-wide registration weekend on 8 and 9 February.
People who have not voted before, or those that have moved since the last elections are urged to register, if they have not done so yet[/full]