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21 April 2009

Thank you very much Ms Hlophe (Dr Brigalia Hlophe Bam) and happy birthday to you once again and many happy returns on this special day. In African tradition, when it rains we regard that as a good omen because the rain will wash away all the glitches and difficulties and also have the effect of softening the hearts of those who may want to create difficulties during these elections.

We look forward to fair and free elections. We welcome the many international election observers who are here with us. We once again believe that this institution the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will do us proud as it has done in the past and we expect no less this time around.

We believe that they are up to the challenge and that all of the parties that are contesting these elections will give it their best shot and take pride in the fact that they participated in these elections, particularly those who may not be favoured by the results. We believe that they would have also made a major contribution in consolidating our democracy.

We are of the view that the level of enthusiasm displayed during this election campaign and the levels of participation by young and old people indicates that indeed our democracy is vibrant and that those doomsayers who have been predicting that our democracy is floundering, will be prepared to eat humble pie, because I think it is a vibrant democracy which does not allow for any form of abuse of the systems because the checks and balances are in place.

I know of no other nation that can boast of so many activists. In South Africa, every citizen is an activist of one kind or the other.

With these words, once again, I commend the IEC team and assure them that the state organs are ready to lend support and to ensure that we create an environment in which all of our people can cast their vote without fear or favour.

I thank you.

Enquiries:
Thabo Masebe
Cell: 082 410 8087

Issued by: The Presidency
21 April 2009