South Africa: yes, you can!
Bathandwa Mbola
16 April 2009
The government has called on South Africans to turn out in their millions to vote in the country's fourth democratic elections on 22 April.
Briefing the media in Pretoria on Thursday, Government Spokesperson Themba Maseko said the more people went to the polls, the more the country's democracy would be strengthened.
At the same time, Maseko warned that no intimidation or violence would be tolerated on election day, saying the government called on everyone "not to allow any attempt to prevent free, fair and peaceful elections in every corner of our country."
He said security personnel would be ready to deal with anyone attempting to prevent South Africans from exercising their "hard-earned right to vote."
The IEC has also taken all necessary steps to ensure that the elections are conducted in a transparent and impartial way. Thes include allowing party representatives to be present at voting stations to witness the counting of the ballots, and the results being verified by independent auditors.
More than 23-million people have registered to vote, including 16 240 registered South Africans abroad, many of whom voted on Wednesday.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said Wednesday's voting at South African missions "went fantastically", and that ballot papers from the overseas vote would be transported to South Africa and tallied after next week's main polls.
Thousands of South Africans lined up to cast their ballots on Wednesday in a number of countries across the globe, including Australia, America, Fiji, Eritrea, Britain and Sweden.
The largest overseas polling station was at South Africa House in London, with over 7 000 registered voters, followed by Canberra, Australia with 1 230 registered voters. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates totalled 900 and Wellington, New Zealand had 410 registered voters.
Meanwhile, preparations for the inauguration of South Africa's next president, due to take place in Pretoria on 9 May, are at advanced stage.
"Heads of state and government have been invited to join the nation in witnessing and celebrating the inauguration of the fourth democratically elected President of the Republic," Maseko said.
Members of the public will also be welcome to join in the ceremony at the Union Building.
Source: BuaNews
