‘Born frees’ to have their say
2014 marks the first time in history that the ‘born frees’ will make their mark in the national general elections.
NEXT marks the first time in South African history that the ‘born frees’ will make their mark in the national general elections.
And all attention is being focused on registering current 17-year-olds throughout Zululand who were born into the democratic era and for the first time get to exercise their democratic right.
Thirty schools within the uThungulu District were selected this week as part of ‘Schools Democracy Week’, which extends until Monday.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has identified a ‘registration gap’ among eligible voters aged 18 to 29, and its aim is therefore to increase the registration of youth.
‘Almost two decades into our democracy, we are encouraging our youth to vote and decide the future of our nation,’ uThungulu IEC Regional Supervisor Thule Dlamini told the Zululand Observer.
‘The unique highlight of next year’s election is that our ‘born frees’ will be voting for the first time. They were never part of the struggle and now they need to make informed choices,’ added Dlamini.
Partnering with the Department of Basic Education and Home Affairs, the IEC in uThungulu is educating youngsters on how to think critically about democratic issues at school sessions.
‘At selected schools, presentations have been made at morning assemblies and we have briefed teachers, while also distributing pamphlets and manuals to subject advisers from foundation, intermediary to senior and FET phases,’ said IEC Outreach and Training Officer: uThungulu, Lihle Luthuli.
‘From next year we will incorporate newly developed and approved material into the curriculum.
‘We have been introducing the Electoral Commission to pupils, teaching them about democracy, their rights and responsibilities as voters, how to register and how to vote.’
‘Pupils who do not have South African green bar-coded identity (ID) books are encouraged to apply for one at their nearest Home Affairs office as soon as possible.
‘Where possible, the Electoral Commission intends to register eligible learners, both those aged 16 and 17, who can register but cannot vote, and those aged 18 and above who can register and vote,’ added Luthuli.
