PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has called South Africans to come out in numbers and vote, with the 2024 elections just a week away.
Ramaphosa said many remember the historic Election Day in 1994 when they voted for the very first time for a democratic government of their choice.
“We all remember how we felt as we stood in long queues patiently waiting to cast our vote for a government of our choice,” he said.
He added that as they cast their votes, they were mindful of the weight of history and 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.
“The right to vote has been the cornerstone of our democratic order and is enshrined in the Bill of Rights of our constitution. As you cast your ballot, firstly through a special vote on the 27th and 28th of May, and many of us on the 29th of May, you will be demonstrating your faith in our democratic order,” he said.
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He said that by placing their crosses on the ballot papers, they would be executing a responsibility that history had placed on their shoulders.
Ramaphosa said most importantly, they will be deciding for themselves the direction that the country should take and determining the path that they should follow to get there.
“By voting, you are taking responsibility for your future and the future of your community. Your vote is important. Your vote counts. 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 respected.
“Let us continue in this way. 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,” he said.
