“This election confirms that freedom does indeed reign in South Africa,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said after his party won the 2019 national elections on Saturday.
“It (the election) gives us the assurance that our people are the true custodians of our freedom and democracy,” Ramaphosa added, quoting Nelson Mandela’s inauguration speech of 1994, as he celebrated his party’s victory of 57.50% in South Africa’s sixth national elections.
Thanking millions of South Africans who braved the rain and cold to cast their vote on earlier this week, the president said the exercise was confirmation of the country’s freedom and democracy in action.
Ramaphosa saluted the elderly who have remained committed to their civic duty since 1994 and passed his condolences to those who lost their lives on their way to the polling stations.
Two elderly voters in their late 60s reportedly died on their way to make their mark, perhaps due to old age combined with the harsh weather on Wednesday.
“We send our sincere condolences to the families and friends of Ms Susan Mohanoua Matona from Vanderbijlpark in Sedibeng and Mr Dirk Henry Osche from Elandspoort in Pretoria.
“We must honour their memories by deepening our democratic culture and defending, with all what we have, the right to vote,” the president said.
He added: “Let us now work together – black and white, women and men, young and old – to build a South Africa that truly belongs to all who live in it, one which is united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous.”
NM/jn/APA