Johannesburg – Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Des van Rooyen has urged eligible South Africans to go out in their numbers to vote and be counted as those who are working tirelessly to strengthen democracy.
“Any eligible citizens who do not vote can never claim to be part of a growing democracy and that is why it is important for all who are eligible to cast their vote,” Minister Van Rooyen said.
He was addressing the Foreign Correspondents’ Association (FCA) on the upcoming Local Government Elections on Tuesday in Johannesburg.
On Wednesday, millions of South Africans will cast their votes in what has been described as the most hotly contested poll since 1994. There are more than 26 million registered voters on the national voters’ roll.
“The time now is for our people to speak and the only way of speaking is through making a cross [next] to a party and a candidate of their choice,” Minister Van Rooyen said.
Government has put in place measures to ensure the upcoming Local Government Elections are free and fair.
“As government, we are confident that we will have peaceful Local Government Elections, even in Vuwani [and] also in the whole district of Vhembe.
“Citizens are encouraged to report any incident of violence to the law enforcement offices and police will act swiftly to bring all perpetrators to book,” Minister Van Rooyen said.
He said police will remain highly visible to ensure that no one is prevented from exercising their hard won democratic right to vote.
According to Minister Van Rooyen, the categorisation of hotspots has been done by the security cluster and there is a plan to take care of all the hotspots in the country.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Andries Nel said all 22 612 voting stations have been analysed by the police and other security agencies.
“They have been categorised into three broad categories - low, medium and high risk and the security services have deployed personnel accordingly. If needs be, the Defence Force [will] support the police in the highest security risk areas,” Deputy Minister Nel said.
Minister Van Rooyen said the Electoral Commission (IEC) is on track to guide the country to yet another successful local government elections. – SAnews.gov.za
