The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced Saturday, September 3 as voter registration day for the upcoming local government elections.

The date for the elections, however, has not yet been set and will be announced by Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi after consultation with the IEC.

In terms of the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998, voting for all municipal councils must be held within 90 days of the expiry date of the term of municipal councils, which is December 6.

This means local government elections should take place between December 2005 7 and March 1, 2006.

Briefing the media, IEC Chairperson Brigalia Bam said from July 1 to July 15 the IEC would conduct "targeted and individualised registration" of people at new voting districts as a result of the recent ward demarcations.

"The IEC has increased the number of voting districts from 14 988 in 2000 to 18 830 in the 2005/06 elections in order to enable easy access, reduce queues and long distances, especially in informal settlements, townships and rural areas," she explained.

Dr Bam also appealed to all South Africans, especially the youth and males to register and cast their ballots.

She said one of the challenges the body was faced with was voter migration - when people register at one place and by the time the elections take place they would have moved to another place where they are not registered.

Chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula echoed Dr Bam's call to the youth and first time voters to register for the elections.

She said a call centre was functional starting today for people to check if they were registered and where they should go to register - the toll free number is 0800 11 8000.

Alternatively people can log onto the IEC website at www.elections.org or use their mobile telephones to send their ID number to 32810 - this number applies to all three mobile networks.

Meanwhile, a youth group called Kwani Experience has composed a song based on the voter registration campaign's slogan - "Power of the X" - urging the public, particularly the youth to "make their mark".