PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the electorate to reject corrupt leaders during the local government elections to demonstrate their intolerance for corruption, theft and mismanagement of funds meant to benefit the poor.
South African will vote for local government leaders on October 27.
Ramaphosa was speaking during Freedom Day celebrations at the Charlotte Maxeke Recreational Centre in Botshabelo, Free State.
“If those who claim to serve you are not doing so, vote them out,” said Ramaphosa.
“I call on you to decide who among the many candidates has the ability and the determination to work tirelessly on your behalf. I call on you to determine the future of your family and your community by putting your confidence in those parties that have the best policies and the will and the means to implement them. I call on you to demonstrate, with your vote, your intolerance for corruption, theft and mismanagement of the funds that are meant for the benefit of you, the citizen.”
Ramaphosa said the upcoming local government elections were an opportunity for voters to make their voices heard and to be part of the change they want to see.
“Of the many great facets of democracy is that we are able to exercise our right to protest. But when we resort to violent demonstrations, burning, looting and the destruction of property, we are undermining the very cause we seek to advance. Exercising our right to vote is by far the most powerful form of protest,” said Ramaphosa.
The president also called on South Africans to reject homophobia and all forms of intolerance against members of the LGBTQI+ community.
“Over the past few months there have been a series of terrible crimes committed against members of this community, including murder. This is something of which we as a nation are deeply ashamed. I want to send a strong message that hate crime will not be tolerated in our society, and that those behind these crimes will be found and brought to book,” said Ramaphosa.
He further said many have paid the ultimate price so that “w are able to breathe the clean air of freedom today”.
“Over the years we have encountered and overcome many challenges. But there are still many challenges that we are yet to overcome. These are problems common to us all and they impact us all,” he said.
Freedom Day on 27 April is an annual celebration of South Africa’s first non-racial democratic elections of 1994.
- Inside Politics