Residents of Asherville gathered for an informative voter education outreach, at the Assemblies of God church. The voter education outreach aims at empowering community members—especially young people—with knowledge about their democratic right to vote and the importance of participating in elections.
The session brought together local leadership and community members to discuss the value of civic participation. The outreach was led by the Speaker of Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Nomhle Gaga, alongside the Speaker of Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, Councillor Cheslin Felix, Executive Mayor Willem Safers and Chief Whip Thembekile Spogter.
During the session, municipal leaders engaged directly with residents, encouraging them—particularly the youth—to take an active role in shaping the future of their communities through the democratic process. Speakers emphasised that voting plays a critical role in strengthening democracy and ensuring that communities have a voice in decisions that affect their daily lives, including service delivery, development and local opportunities.
Community members also received practical guidance on how to check their voter registration status through the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Residents were informed that they can verify their registration by visiting the IEC website, sending an SMS with their ID number to 32810, calling the IEC toll-free call centre, using the online voter registration portal, accessing the IEC WhatsApp chatbot, or downloading the IEC mobile application.
Representatives from the South African Police Service (SAPS) were also present to outline security measures that will be implemented during elections. They assured residents that strict safety procedures are in place at voting stations to ensure that the electoral process is conducted in a safe, fair and orderly manner.
The voter education outreach forms part of ongoing efforts by local government and partner organisations to strengthen civic awareness and encourage active participation in democracy. Residents were urged to verify their voter registration and motivate others—particularly first-time voters—to take part in future elections and make their voices heard.
