Oudtshoorn voter roll tops 55 000 ahead of 2026 elections

OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The IEC in the Western Cape has recorded an overall total of 235 178 registration activities over the past Registration Weekend. Of these, there were 47 457 new registrations and a further 187 772 citizens checked and updated their details.

Western Cape Provincial Electoral Officer, Michael Hendrickse, has expressed his gratitude to the public who took the time to turn out at voting stations to register, re-register, or check and update their details.

“I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the IEC team and staff at voting stations who assisted citizens and ensured that the process ran smoothly, I also have to express our appreciation to our many stakeholders and role-players, which include the South African Police Services, local law enforcement, municipalities and especially the Department of Home Affairs which had opened its offices over the weekend,” he said.

While 49 957 citizens went online, 185 221 physically visited voting stations across the province.

The province has 1 623 voting stations.

Unfortunately, five stations are located in rural areas of Beaufort West, Cederberg and Kannaland, which were inaccessible due to road damage or closures following the devastating floods, and could not open. Arrangements are being made to visit these five communities to register and re-register voters.

The IEC continues to urge the youth to participate in the voting process and is encouraged by the turnout among young people during registration weekend.

In Oudtshoorn, a total of 55 103 people registered to vote of which 24 590 are males and 30 513 are females.

According to the IEC, there’s been a welcome uptick in the Western Cape Voters’ Roll.

Compared to September 2025, when it was at 3 274 338, it now stands at 3 359 425, translating into an increase of over 85 000 voters in the province.

You can still register

In line with ensuring all South Africans have access and opportunities to participate in the electoral processes, the IEC has announced that citizens will no longer incur any data costs when interacting with the Online Voter Registration Portal.

The Commission has also announced that the second voter registration will take place on 1 and 2 August. Voters and eligible citizens must make use of these opportunities to ensure they are on the correct municipal ward segment of the National Common Voters Roll.

Citizens who have not yet registered are reminded that the Online Voter Registration Portal will remain available until the official Proclamation of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

When registering online:

Go to the IEC website and go to register to vote.
Enter your name and surname, contact details and create a password.
Insert your address details.
Upload a photo or file of your valid SA ID - green ID book, smart ID or temporary ID.
Insert the One Time Pin (OTP) sent to your mobile phone.
Receive a notification that you are registered to vote within 24 hours.

To check if you are registered:

SMS your ID number to 32810 (R1 per SMS).
Go to your local IEC office from Monday to Friday during office hours.
Go to the IEC website: www.elections.org.za and follow the link “Am I registered to vote?’
Check the Voters’ Roll at the voting station where you are registered to vote during the voter registration weekend.
Call Toll-free from a landline to the call centre 0800 11 8000.

Hendrickse said voting was much more than a box-ticking exercise.

“We all have the opportunity to hold those in power to account, to unpack their plans and programs and not merely slogans, review their track records and ethical behaviour and to elect our municipal councillors come 4 November 2026.”

He said the IEC would continue to provide opportunities to citizens to register and vote in free and fair elections.

“It is the responsibility and decision of each eligible citizen to make use of that opportunity, for their own sake, for the sake of the community and for our country. Your opinion matters, and if you want your opinion to count, shove it in the ballot box.”

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