Local government elections were peaceful, free and fair across KwaZulu-Natal, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala said on Tuesday.
“Millions of eligible voters went to the polls on Monday, 1 November in the country’s local government elections to choose councillors for the next five years. On Tuesday, as early stage voting continued, a concerning picture was beginning to emerge indicating clearly that many voters had decided not to cast their vote,” Zikalala said.
This election year marks 21 years of local government in South Africa and 28 years since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.
Based on this count the Independent Electoral Commission said that out of the country’s estimated 40 million eligible voters, an estimated 13 million had decided not to register to vote.
“As predicted, preliminary figures show a significant drop in overall voter turn-out. This year 52% of KwaZulu-Natal voters went to the polls compared to the 2016 number of 61%. This year’s figures point to a 10% decline but it gives hope that with more intensive engagement of the voters, that decline can be halted,” Zikalala said.
He said KZN was one of only three provinces which together with the Western Cape and Northern Cape breached the 50% response of registered voters who made their mark yesterday.
“Going forward it is clear we will require greater focus on young people who are first time voters to remind them that they have a stake in the future of this country. As leaders it is our duty to help reverse this trend of non-voting and to encourage voters to exercise this right which is central to consolidating the democratic gains,” he said.
Premier urges parties and candidates to accept election results
Zikalala thanked the voters and police for ensuring a peaceful election.
“We take this opportunity to thank the voters in KwaZulu-Natal who came out to vote to express this hard-earned democratic right. In particular, we convey our gratitude to all the communities of KwaZulu-Natal for displaying maturity and for allowing all political parties and independents to display their posters and to campaign freely,” he said.
“Apart from reported isolated incidents we are pleased that political parties engaged robustly but with respect for each other in what has been a mature contest for the soul of the voter,” Zikalala added.
Zikalala appealed to citizens, political parties and their candidates to accept the final results as the product of a democratic, free and fair process.
“Once the results are finalised we will start setting up councils. We call on the people of KwaZulu-Natal to support these structures and for the next five years to work closely with all our elected representatives to support the delivery of basic services,” he said.
“We would also pay our tribute to the IEC for rolling out its world class election machinery to conduct an election that we can all be proud of. The IECs integrity remains uncontested as an independent election agency that is centred on our Constitutional values,” he said.
from The South African https://ift.tt/3jVWqqs
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