In a speech after the 2024 election results were announced Sunday night, the president Cyril Ramaphosa He said South Africans, through their vote, had clearly demonstrated that our democracy was strong, solid and enduring.
Today's final announcement of the results of the 2024 national and provincial elections represents a victory for our democracy, our constitutional order and for all South Africans.
We have once again successfully conducted free, fair and peaceful elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission, despite many challenges, once again performed its duties with excellence, professionalism and integrity.
Millions of South Africans voted in cities, towns, villages, farms and polling stations at home and abroad.
South Africans want to make the country a better place.
South Africans care about their country.
South Africans have demonstrated their willingness to contribute to making the country a better place.
South Africans have shown that they know how important their vote is and that their vote counts.
By going to vote, South Africans are taking responsibility not only for their own future and that of their families, but also for the future of their country.
Through their vote, they have demonstrated clearly and unequivocally that our democracy is strong, solid and enduring.
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They carried out a clarion call that has resonated for generations: that the people should govern.
We the people have spoken.
As leaders of political parties and all those holding positions of responsibility in society, we must listen to the voice of the people and respect their wishes.
Over the past 30 years, we have worked together to build a nation that black people and white people, men and women, young and old, can all call home.
This election reaffirms that building a South Africa that works for everyone is our country’s defining mission.
Throughout the course of the election campaign, parties and candidates have sometimes, and often strongly, disagreed.
They have expressed a wide variety of opinions, which are often contradictory to each other.
This is a welcome and necessary feature of a strong democracy.
Voters' rights are recognized
However, throughout the election campaign, parties and candidates have adhered to basic democratic principles.
Political parties and candidates affirmed that voters have the right to participate in free, fair and peaceful elections.
And now it is up to all of us to recognize that the election results reflect the will of the people.
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This election has made it clear that South Africans expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs.
They expect the party they voted for to find common ground, overcome their differences, and work together for the benefit of all.
Our people expect all political parties to work together within the framework of the Constitution and to deal peacefully with all challenges they face, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the rule of law.
Each political party will finish this election with a mandate from voters based on the pledges they made to them.
But all parties share an overarching mission to work with each other and with society more broadly to build an inclusive, united and prosperous country.
Our seats belong to the people
When we take our seats in Congress or in state legislatures, let us recognize that the seats we occupy do not belong to us, but to the people.
Any authority, any power entrusted to us must be exercised to further the interests of the people.
As the 2024 elections draw to a close, I would like to express my gratitude to the staff and leadership of the Independent Electoral Commission who have worked tirelessly under difficult circumstances to ensure a successful election.
We pay tribute to the men and women personnel of the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force who ensured peace and stability during the voting period, and to the staff of the Department of Home Affairs who worked tirelessly to ensure that as many voters as possible had identity documents on election day.
I would like to thank the independent candidates, leaders and members of all political parties who took part in the election.
I would like to thank all the domestic and international observers who dedicated their time and effort to helping us have a free and fair election.
We would also like to thank the journalists, researchers, cameramen, producers, analysts and other media workers who played a vital role in ensuring South Africans were well informed when they went to vote.
Above all, I thank the South African people for giving life and meaning again to the values and principles of our constitutional democracy.
Now is the time for all of us to put South Africa first.
The people of this country expect and deserve more than that.
God bless South Africa and protect its people, all South Africans love this country, all African Dzongas love this country, all Africans love this country, all Africans love this country.
thank you.
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