President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to vote in national and local elections on 29 May. President Ramaphosa addressed the nation via his video message on Friday afternoon.
He reminded the more than 27 million registered voters of the importance of voting, noting that many have struggled and sacrificed for the right to vote, and many have died in the process of gaining freedom.
Some of the more than 76,000 South Africans living abroad have already started voting. A special vote will be held on May 27th and 28th.
More than 1.6 million voters have been approved for special voting. Prime Minister Ramaphosa further called on various stakeholders and political parties to ensure the country holds credible elections.
He said the right to vote was a cornerstone of South African democracy as enshrined in the Constitution.
“The right to vote is a cornerstone of our democratic order, enshrined in our Constitution's Bill of Rights. First, we held a special vote on May 27 and 28, and many of us voted on May 29. By voting, you are demonstrating your faith in our democratic order. By crossing out your ballot, you are fulfilling a historical responsibility. By voting, you decide for yourself the direction our country should take, and the path we take to get there. Your vote matters.