Cyril Ramaphosa during the Siyankoba rally. Photo by Delwyn Verasamy
President Cyril Ramaphosa has used his position in government to turn his address to the nation into a last-ditch effort to garner votes for the ANC in the upcoming elections.
President Ramaphosa said he was addressing the nation to address the responsibility for conducting elections, which is usually considered part of the mandate of the South African Electoral Commission (IEC).
While expressing concern about possible threats to the election, President Ramaphosa said the country's law enforcement and security agencies were fully prepared to ensure that the election was peaceful and that all South Africans were able to freely exercise their right to vote.
He said security forces have been deployed across the country to ensure there is no disruption or disruption to the electoral process.
“I thank them for their professionalism, dedication and vigilance. Over the past few months, many parties and candidates have campaigned tirelessly and diligently. Although the contest was intense and at times heated, the campaign was peaceful and without intimidation,” he said.
According to News24, security firm Fidelity issued a warning about possible protests in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, followed by a similar notice from banking group FirstRand on Thursday.
KwaZulu-Natal police are reportedly working with the South African National Defence Force, Criminal Intelligence and private security companies to avoid possible violence both on election day and after the vote on May 29.
This comes after former president Jacob Zuma lost an appeal by the IEC to the Constitutional Court and was removed from his party's list of candidates competing for parliamentary posts.
“We should all be concerned by reports published today of disruption of electoral activities, including an illegal break-in at an IEC storage site in KwaZulu-Natal,” President Ramaphosa said, calling on political parties, candidates, supporters and all South Africans to refrain from any action that could disrupt legitimate electoral processes.
“Whatever the outcome, this election should further entrench our democracy and strengthen our resolve to defend it,” he said.
President Ramaphosa commended all political parties for adhering to the electoral code of conduct, adding that political leaders ensured their supporters adhered to the democratic principles that have long characterised the country's elections.
President Ramaphosa then spent the other half of his speech campaigning for the ANC.
He said South Africa had endured a decade of corruption and state takeover, slow economic growth and the decline of public institutions.
“Today, we have moved beyond that era.”
This stands in stark contrast to comments made by State Capture Commission Chairperson Justice Raymond Zondo, who publicly expressed disappointment that the government had not implemented some of his recommendations.
Zondo's comments have been criticised by leaders including ANC leader Gwede Manashe, who accused him of misrepresenting responsibility for the management and implementation of the state takeover report and its recommendations.
