Programme director - Dr Tumi Thiba
The Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) - Dr. Brigalia Bam
Deputy Chairperson of the Commission - Thoko Mpumlwana
Commissioner of the IEC- Terry Tselane
The Deputy CEO of the IEC- Mosotho Moepya
The Gauteng Provincial Electoral Officer- Sy Mamabolo
Provincial electoral officers present
Members of the Gauteng Executive Council present
Leaders of Political parties
Mayors and Speakers of councils present
Ladies and gentlemen
We are quickly approaching the period in which our people are given an opportunity to make a determining choice on what they want for the country to thrive and who must be on the driving seat of the growth path they choose. It is an exciting period in that democracy is expressly given a tangible meaning through the exercise of the suffrage right by the masses of South Africa.
It is the right that was once denied to the multitudes of people on the basis of their complexion. Their skin colour was deemed by the illegitimate rulers as that of the lesser being not capable of exercising the birth right to choose the government of the day.
Owing to the prevalence of a set of conditions, embodied by apartheid, the inhuman and insane system which was propped by the brutal state apparatus, the police and the army, blood was shed, lives lost and thousands disappeared behind the walls of the then notorious John Vorster Square.
All this happened because the oppressed people were crying out loud for freedom, peace and justice in the country of their birth. It was this war cry that eventually brought the apartheid government to its knees and ushered in what is widely regarded as the South African miracle, the triumph of popular forces of democracy over apartheid.
It is therefore in honour of the battle waged and triumph achieved that we shall not dither in our responsibility to defend and entrench democracy. It is in remembrance of all those who selflessly fought for South Africa to be free and become part of the civilised nations of the world that we shall together march to the polls for the world to see that the battle was not in vain.
Above all, together we shall cast our vote as a clear demonstration of our devotion and commitment to the values of democracy. Our act in this period does not only reinforce the global perception that South Africa is a, free, stable and matured democracy but that South Africa is ready to be an equal player in the global institutions in their efforts to make the world a peaceful place to live in.
Programme director,
In the past weekends we, together with the IEC, went around various parts of our province to promote the registration ahead of the local government elections. We did this fully conscious of the significance of mobilising support for the election because our democracy remains a work-in-progress project that can never truly end. By encouraging more citizens to turn up for the local government polls on 18 May 2011, we are deepening and strengthening the precepts of democracy.
As we were overwhelmed by the large numbers of new young voters who registered during the past weekends, we can only hope that the youth will continue to hoist the flag and carry the torch that was lit on that fateful day of June 1976.
To this end, the smooth conduct of elections is critical and it is the government duty to assist the IEC with facilities that they need in order to execute their mandate of organising free and fair elections.
We have accordingly made available some of our existing infrastructure, including schools and municipal facilities to enable the IEC to set up credible and accessible voting stations. This is in line with the fundamental constitutional imperatives which we cannot allow anyone to undermine.
We will also continue to use our different communication platforms to assist the IEC with voter education. It is important that the electorate understand exactly what the process is all about and how different these elections are to the national and provincial elections.
Accordingly, the authority in election matters, the IEC has set the rules and we are all expected to conform.
Today as we gather to sign the Electoral Code of Conduct, it is a significant milestone in ensuring free and fair elections. This document provides amongst others the leveling of the playing field so that no party can have an unfair advantage. This is a pre-requisite for conducting a credible electoral process.
I would therefore commit and urge everyone to abide by the code and promote it so that more South Africans are aware of how political parties, politicians and government should conduct their activities during this period.
Dankie.
Ngiyabonga.
For further information please contact:
Matlakala Motloung
Cell: 082 787 9472
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
