President Cyril Ramaphosa has encouraged South Africans to exercise their civic duty and vote on November 1 when South Africa holds its local government elections.

In his weekly newsletter to the nation, Ramaphosa stressed that the elections were an opportunity for people to make their voices heard about the most pressing issues affecting them.

In less than seven days voters will be choosing from among over 94 000 candidates, including those from political parties and independents.

Ramaphosa said this year’s election posters displaying the names and faces of new parties and candidates were a sign of the country’s democratic health.

The election, he said, was an opportunity for voters to hold elected representatives accountable for the promises they had made to communities.

“We are at an extremely difficult time in the life of our nation. The Covid-19 pandemic has considerably worsened our economic situation, and if we are to get the country back on track, we need people at the helm who are not only capable, experienced and qualified, but who are also honest and trustworthy,” he said.

Local councillors needed a clear plan to promote investment and business opportunities in their areas while delivering municipal services to better communities and ensure that businesses thrived,  Ramaphosa said.  

The empowerment of young people and women is one of the President’s major concerns.

He urged councillors to change local by-laws and regulations, if necessary, to make it easier for the youth and women to establish new businesses, to make it easier for them to access municipal procurement opportunities and to ensure they had access to training and other support.

Ramaphosa stressed the need for candidates who kept their promises to communities and for more openness and engagement with communities.

He urged voters to work with their elected officials, regardless of political party affiliation.

“Twenty-seven years after its founding, ours is a democracy that has matured. So too should our politics. We may have differing political allegiances, but we ultimately want to see a South Africa that is better for ourselves and for our children. Let us vote responsibly. Let us vote wisely. Let us remember that it is only those who have the best interests of the South African people at heart who should get our vote,” he said.