The cooperation agreement signed between the IEC and DIRCO will enable South African expatriates and travelers to register and vote at the embassy or consulate nearest them.

Since the national and provincial elections of 1999, DIRCO has assisted the IEC with the voting of South African citizens abroad. 

Ahead of the national and provincial elections next year, and following the amendments to the Electoral Act, DIRCO extended its assistance to include voter registration applications through missions abroad.

The websites of the two bodies give details of how South Africans abroad can get onto the voters’ roll to enable them to cast their ballots next year.

The post South Africans abroad can register and vote from the country’s diplomatic missions appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

The coalition opposed to President Joseph Kabila say police have used sharp point ammunition and at least 50 people have died.

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It appears no one was killed when the political parties’ headquarters were burned down.

Activists  defied a government ban on protests, marching on the electoral commission to demand that a poll be held before the end of the year when President Joseph Kabila’s term in office expires.

Authorities say they’ve struck a deal with some opposition parties to delay local elections until the electoral rolls can be completed.

However, other parties say this is a ruse by Kabila to cling to power.

The post Opposition parties’ headquarters torched in DRC appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.