Cape Town – Less than a quarter of South Africa’s born-frees have registered for the 7 May general election.

Figures from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) show that 22%, or 427 655 of South Africa’s almost two million 18- to 19-year-olds, had registered to vote before this weekend, City Press reports.

The commission said it hoped to register about 500 000 of these first-time voters during this weekend’s final registration push.

The born-frees – those born after South Africa’s democracy in 1994 – make up 6% of South Africa’s total voting population of 31.4 million.

IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said the commission was worried about the low registration of eligible young voters.

Bapela said the IEC was running television and radio campaigns featuring musicians and other celebrities in a bid to appeal to young voters.

– City Press