REGISTERED TO VOTE: Former South African President Nelson Mandela greets the crowd after registering in Johannesburg as a voter for next year¹s general elections. He posed for the cameras as he checked his name on South Africa's electoral register on Sunday, but millions of South Africans are failing to follow his example, potentially affecting next year's general election. ©Reuters

An estimated 306 000 of about 9.5 million unregistered potential voters took the time on Saturday to have their names listed on the national voters' roll, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reported on Sunday. Sunday's registration figures will only be available on Monday "Without a shadow of a doubt, we would have preferred higher figures," deputy chief electoral officer Norman du Plessis told reporters in Pretoria. He said the IEC had put in place all the systems and staff required for the weekend registration drive. Nearly 17 000 voting stations were open from 08:00 to 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday. "The table has been laid, but somebody has to come sit down and eat the meal."

Chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula said the commission was not disappointed with the turn-out. "But it means we have to intensify our campaign." She laid the blame at the door of an apathetic South African culture. "I guess people are hoping there will be another opportunity. The same happened with the issuing of (credit-card format) drivers' licenses - people waited until the last moment." She would not say whether voting stations would be opened again at a later stage for another registration drive. Tlakula said the IEC's call centre was receiving about 25 000 calls a day. "But those calls are not translating into reality."The website too, was constantly clogged, with about 96 000 hits on Thursday alone."