South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has thanked the country’s 17 million voters for making sure that last week’s national elections were peaceful.
The IEC said this led to “holding yet another free, fair and peaceful election, while cementing the democratic ideals adopted in 1994.”
“Once again, South Africa has risen to the occasion and showed the world that our appetite for democracy is unquenchable,” Commission chairperson Glen Mashinini said in Pretoria on Tuesday.
South Africans went to the polls to elect a new administration and members of parliament last Wednesday. The election took place as the country also commemorated 25 years since the first democratic polls in 1994.
Mashinini also expressed the commission’s gratitude to the IEC staff and the 200,000 volunteers who served as election officials “with distinction and integrity.”
“The commission is enormously proud of the hard work, commitment and dedication of the officials, who worked tirelessly for over two years to prepare and deliver yet another successful election. South Africa owes you all a debt of gratitude.”
In the same vein, the commission expressed its thanks to the political parties that contested the elections, key government departments such as the Police and Home Affairs, and partner sponsors.
Mashinini said the Commission would now focus on debriefing and introspection to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the entire exercise.
NM/jn/APA