Deputy President Jacob Zuma expressed the government’s regret on Monday at the choice of some in South Africa to advance partisan political interests ahead of the national good.
In an apparent reference to the Inkatha Freedom Party’s legal challenge against the election result, he said the Constitution required respect for institutions that protect democracy, such as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
”I must express our government’s regret that there may be some in our country who are ready and willing to ignore these considerations to advance partisan political interests,” Zuma said.
”Surely they too must recognise that the national good… obliges all of us to understand that there are some things far greater than party political interest.”
Zuma was speaking at a glittering function at the Tshwane Events Centre — the former Pretoria showgrounds — to celebrate the success of the elections held on Wednesday and previous ones since 1994.
”We who have the privilege to contribute the little we did to secure our liberation recognise that the institution we celebrate today is the product of a long-held dream of millions of our people.
”As one marks the elections, one also has to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to pave the way for democratic institutions like the IEC,” Zuma said.
”Our respect demands that at all time we remain vigilant in defence of our democracy and in defence of institutions protecting constitutional democracy.”
The banquet, attended by over 1 000 guests, honoured the IEC commissioners of 1994 who received special awards. Johann Kriegler, commission chairperson in 1994, congratulated his successors saying, ”You have just delivered as neat, as tidy, as correct an election as any country in the world could have done”. – Sapa