The government has thanked South Africans for making the country’s fifth democratic elections a success, and called for unity in moving the country forward.
“The sight of millions of South Africans queuing to vote demonstrated a vibrant and maturing democracy,” acting Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) CEO Phumla Williams said on Sunday, a day after the African National Congress (ANC) was officially announced the winner of last Wednesday’s elections.
“The elections have served to renew and strengthen our democracy,” Williams said in a statement. “We are pleased by the great turnout, in particular first-time voters. Statistics from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) show that more people than ever before have chosen to exercise their right to vote.”
The strong turnout of young voters also boded well for the South African democracy, Williams added.
“We are inspired by the overwhelming number of young people who came out to vote across the country. This is a clear indication that the future of South Africa is in good hands.”
Williams applauded all the political parties for the spirit of national unity that prevailed during the elections, adding: “The future is now in our hands and we must all do our best to build a winning nation.
“As we move forward, we need to inculcate the culture of activism and tolerance displayed during the election period into the daily life of our country.
“The elections were hard fought and contested with remarkable political maturity and tolerance, and now that the divisive political battles have come to an end, government calls on all South Africans to unite behind a common goal of moving the country forward in line with the Vision 2030, as mapped out in the National Development Plan.”
Source: SAnews.gov.za
