President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on citizens, political parties and civil society to work together to ensure that this year’s election is a “success in our ongoing journey of democratic consolidation”.
The President was addressing the nation through his weekly newsletter.
The 2024 National and Provincial Elections are expected to be held on 29 May this year.
“It is up to us all, whether as government, political parties, candidates, voters, the media or civil society organisations, to play our part by ensuring that our actions and words inspire faith in our democracy. We must continue to work together to ensure that nothing undermines the integrity of our elections.
“Above all, it is up to us all to ensure that this hard-won right to vote, for which so many sacrificed so much, is exercised by every eligible citizen in a climate free of intimidation and all forms of violence,” President Ramaphosa said.
This year’s elections will be the seventh held since the dawn of democracy 30 years ago.
As highlighted by the President, the country’s electoral processes together with the rights enjoyed by citizens and political parties to organise, campaign and contest, “are among the greatest strengths of our constitutional order”.
Valuable rights
President Ramaphosa reminded South Africans that in this country, politicians are free to contest and media freedom to report is guaranteed with the courts administering justice “without fear or favour, including an Electoral Court that oversees the work of the Independent Electoral Commission [IEC] and the conduct of elections”.
“As the country counts down to the election, the vibrant and robust campaigning that is taking place reflects how South Africa’s politics continues to evolve and mature. It is also a reflection of the many different views in our society and the variety of choices that voters have.
“In a democracy such as ours, we should not be worried about differences, even when sharply expressed. That is because the vast majority of South Africans value and respect the democratic process. They have faith in the rule of law and know that any disputes can be resolved through the courts and other legal avenues.
“Over the past 30 years we have held elections that are not only free and fair, but also peaceful and free of intimidation. Dire predictions of South Africa ‘regressing into violence’ or ‘democratic backsliding’ that regrettably remain a common feature of some reportage and analysis have been proven wrong time and again,” he said.
The South African voter
President Ramaphosa said that according to research, most South Africans “recognise the importance of their vote and believe they have a duty to vote” with the IEC commissioned research finding that some 57% of South Africans having expressed belief that voting is their duty.
“While youth apathy is often cited as a problem in our country, some 55% of 18-24 year olds saw it as their duty to vote. It is significant that young people accounted for over 78% of new voter registrations last year. The IEC research also found that the majority of respondents agreed that democracy is preferable to other kinds of government.
“Despite its many challenges, our democracy is in good health. Even as political and other forms of contestation continue in the run-up to this year’s polls, they are taking place under the broad umbrella of a constitutional order characterised by fundamental freedoms and human rights,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
