Cape Town — President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a message to all South Africans, encouraging them to vote ahead of the country’s crucial national and provincial elections on 29 May.
In a Presidency statement, Ramaphosa called on South Africans to cast their votes to really be heard during this year’s elections. He reminded South Africans of the first democratic election in 1994, and remembered how ecstatic people were to be able stand in the long queues and vote for the first time.
“As we cast our votes, we were mindful of the weight of history. We were mindful of the fact that so many people had struggled and sacrificed for this right to vote and many had lost their lives in the cause of freedom.” he said.
President @CyrilRamaphosa‘s Call To Vote message – May 2024 Elections. https://t.co/X7LxGs5O73
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 18, 2024
He said the right to vote has been the cornerstone of the democratic order and is enshrined in the Bill of Rights. He said that when South Africans vote on the 29th of May, it will demonstrate the faith in the democratic order.
“By placing your crosses on the ballot papers, you will be executing a responsibility that history has placed on your shoulders. Most importantly, you will be deciding for yourself the direction that our country should take and determining the path that we should follow to get there.” he said.
Every vote counts and each vote is important and, by voting, every South African will take responsibility for their own futures and the future of the country.
“As the election campaigns have unfolded, we have shown that we are a diverse, tolerant, and free society where different views can be heard and are respected. Let us all work together to ensure that we have an election that is free, fair, and peaceful. I call upon you to go and vote.” Ramaphosa concluded.
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Picture: X/@PresidencyZA
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
