‘Moment of history’: Ramaphosa confident ANC will come out on top in local government elections - News24

President Cyril Ramaphosa described this election day as “historic” after casting his ballot at Hyde Park High School, saying the turnout across the country showed democracy at work.

Walking hand in hand with his wife, Dr Tshepo Motsepe, towards the voting station, Ramaphosa turned to her and said: “Let’s go, mama.”

“This is a historic day in the life of our country, our beloved country, South Africa. The turnout of our people, as one looks at their TV screens, the queues that are all over the country, just makes this a very special and historic day.

“This is democracy at work,” Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa said that he was “very excited” and “very confident”, and urged South Africans to take joy in the fact that “our democracy is alive”, even in the face of challenges at the local government level.

“In all municipalities, around the country, and believe you me, I’ve gone around. I have seen the challenges that we face at local government level.

“But we, as government, are determined to rebuild our local government structure to ensure that what was promised as a better life for our people,” Ramaphosa said.

He said a new crop of councillors would be coming through, and expressed confidence that they would be “more committed to serving our people”.

“In a few days’ time, we will be inaugurating new councils, and after that, we enter a new chapter of our democracy, but a new chapter of better governance, of better delivery,” he said.

Ramaphosa called on those who had not yet voted to go out in their thousands, saying “we all have rights, but we also have responsibilities”.

“My view is that we have never really, in years, had a local government election like this where we have so many parties, so many South Africans interested in representing our people.

“So that, in itself, makes this moment a really, truly special one. This is the moment of history,” he said.

As ANC president, Ramaphosa’s final call was for ANC supporters to go out in their numbers and vote. He said:

Asked about the poor service delivery in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa said he was happy that the strike in the city had ended (it ended last night when the City of Joburg agreed to pay workers R10 billion over two years).

Ramaphosa said he also suffered from Joburg’s water supply problems at his home in Hyde Park and was “sad” when he opened the tap to shower and there was no water.

“The issue of water is being addressed. When I wake up in the morning and I open the tap, and I want to shower so that I become more handsome, I am sad that I don’t have water. So our residents rightfully deserve the best. People are really struggling with basic services. The issue of services is at the centre of these elections.

“Rand Water has had a problem with the delivery of water in the various reservoirs. They are now pumping more and more water into the reservoirs, not only in Johannesburg, but in the beyond Gauteng precinct,” Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa also commented on the current midterm elections taking place in the US, stating that it would introduce a new era in world relations.

“We have seen that the Democrats have taken control of the Senate and of the House. And the people of America have spoken,” he said.

Ramaphosa added that South Africa was always willing to have good relations with the US.

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