Over 16 000 expats to vote
Nthambeleni Gabara
6 April 2009
More than 16 000 South Africans living overseas are expected to vote in the country's general elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) received 19 265 applications from South Africans abroad, of which 17 841 applications were approved.
According to the IEC, of the applications approved, 16 240 voters intend to cast a vote at a South African mission abroad on 15 April. Another 1 601 South Africans would vote at the office of the presiding officer in their voting district on 20 or 21 April before they left South Africa.
Those who applied can check the status of their application on the IEC website under "Check Status".
The overseas voting station with the highest number of voters is London with 7 472, followed by Canberra, Australia with 1 235, Dubai, United Arab Emirates with 900, Wellington, New Zealand with 410, The Hague, Netherlands with 378, and Dublin, Ireland with 360.
Rejected applications
A total of 1 424 applications were rejected, mainly due to the applicants not being registered voters or because their notifications were sent after the deadline.
Applicants had to complete a VEC 10 form, which was available on the IEC website and at South African missions abroad, and deliver it to the chief electoral officer by 27 March.
Applicants had to be registered voters on the proclamation date for the elections, which was 12 February.
Valid bar-coded ID
According to the IEC, South Africans voting at missions abroad must produce both their South African green bar-coded identity document or valid temporary identity certificate as well as their passport when they vote.
"Without these documents, voting will not be permitted. At the mission, they will also be required to complete an application form for a special vote, called a VEC 1 form.
"Voting stations at South African missions abroad will be open from 7am until 7pm," the IEC said.
Voting times on 20 and 21 April in South Africa will be from 9am until 5pm.
Source: BuaNews
