8,000 new voters sign up for elections in Free State on first day of registration

QwaQwa - The Free State closed off Saturday with almost 8,000 new registered voters. 

In the voting district of Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, a number of the youth have raised concerns in the country. 

The municipality recorded one of the highest numbers of people in the Free State below the age of 18, as well as in the bracket of 18-21, who registered to vote.

Maluti-a-Phofung has a large amount of youth and a glaring unemployment rate. 

More than 40% of people in the Free State are unemployed, despite the province recording the highest matric pass rate for several years. 

Many youth have diplomas and degrees but are wandering the streets without jobs. 

The area of QwaQwa borders the Drakensberg and mountain peaks of Lesotho and is fairly underdeveloped. 

Compared to other towns in the province, QwaQwa has several malls, business parks and infrastructure. 

But the main problems are water, electricity and roads. 

Residents said that the state of the roads in the Free State was appalling. 

Sunday is the final day of voter registration.