Lesufi: Voter turnout in Gauteng will likely impact national election outcome
A watershed moment awaits the country in this year’s general elections as political parties compete for Gauteng, the biggest province electorally, and the most significant province economically.
FILE: ANC chairperson in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi during a media briefing in Johannesburg on 04 October 2023. Picture: Eyewitness News/Thabiso Goba
JOHANNESBURG - With Gauteng poised to be the battleground on which the election will be won or lost, African National Congress (ANC) provincial chairperson Panyaza Lesufi said it was crucial that residents showed up at the polls.
A watershed moment awaits the country in this year’s general elections as political parties compete for Gauteng, the biggest province electorally, and the most significant province economically.
However, a voter participation survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council last year revealed that the province had the highest number of young people who were strongly considering abstaining from voting in the polls this year.
Speaking at a registration campaign trail in Soweto on Saturday, Lesufi said the voter turnout in the province would likely impact the national election outcome.
"Twenty-five percent of them come from Gauteng, so we’re quite excited. That is how democracy functions and those that accept democracy must accept the outcomes of that democracy. So, I want to thank everybody who exercised their right to register. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This was the beginning. The next stage which is very important - it is for you to appear on that day when the president announces the date to go and vote," said Lesufi.