As a network of organised Civil Society Organisations (comprised of Faith-Based Organisations, Community-Based Organisations, and Non-Governmental Organisations in different parts of South Africa), we encourage all eligible voters to vote and all citizens to promote peace and political tolerance during these elections.

This is a highly competitive election with no guaranteed winners, and we anticipate that the differences in the vote outcome will be by a close margin in many areas. In the past four weeks, we have deployed 5000 specially trained Conflict Mediators in several Voting Districts identified by Election Monitors, the Electoral Commission, and the South African Police as hotspots nationwide to defuse possible electoral conflict and promote compliance with the Electoral Code of Conduct. Supported by the Kagiso Trust, SADRA, and the KZNCC, our Conflict Mediators and Election Observers conducted dialogues and workshops on civic and voter education, and conflict mediation nationwide. We already feel the impact of their interventions in cases of violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct as they help prevent escalation of tensions in a collaborative effort to ensure free and fair elections.
Civil society and faith-based organisations are best suited to handle this task as they remain impartial and work towards achieving peace in communities. An investment in strong working relationships with community stakeholders enabled credible mediators to shuttle between the parties, primarily to address the differences between the various guarantors of an emerging new architecture of peaceful and tolerant communities.
The Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom to make political choices, which includes the right to free, fair and regular elections. It also guarantees every adult citizen the right to vote in elections and to do so in secret. A secret ballot is an essential element of free and fair elections.
Also, as people of faith, we think we can share with our fellow citizens what we think the Gospel of Jesus Christ inspires us to do at this important moment in our history. Our concern is the common good. Our God is a God of peace, harmony and justice.
This year, we celebrate thirty years of democracy in South Africa. We should not forget the deep inequalities, the structural injustices and the violence of state repression which characterised the preceding period. Apartheid was rightly described as crime against humanity. That we moved to a different era thirty years ago needs to be celebrated.
The general feeling in our country today, however, is that despite noticeable achievement much is left to be desired. We see the gradual erosion of basic infrastructures such as schools, hospitals, roads, water distribution and provision of electricity. Crime is rampant. Corruption cases are reported every day, with little chance of ever seeing the perpetrators, public officials or their business partners, being effectively prosecuted. The rate of unemployment is enormous. Poverty increases exponentially with malnutrition, especially among children, becoming an acute problem.
This is what should consider when we cast our vote on 29 May 2024. Fake news, emotional outbursts, personal attacks, ethnic chauvinism and threats of violence abound. We urge our fellow citizens to use their discernment when they decide to vote for a certain party. They should scrutinise the programmes which the different parties, old or new, present to turn around the dire situation of our country. How will they combat corruption? How will they reduce the gap between the rich and the poor, one of the highest in the world? How will they control crime? How will they create jobs? Good intentions are not enough. On which expertise will our future rulers rely to lead the country and improve the state of the economy? Whose interests will they serve? Which party, beyond the populist rhetoric, really cares for the poor?
Compared to many countries in the world which are run by authoritarian leaders with little respect for the opinion of ordinary citizens and for the sovereignty of their neighbours, South Africa fares rather well. Our Constitution is one of the most progressive in the world. But our democracy is fragile. Some sectors in society openly question the rule of law, the principle of separation of powers and the role of the Constitutional Court when disputed constitutional matters need arbitration.
We pray God, who entrusts us the task of making our society just, peaceful and kind to the vulnerable, to protect and assist us on the day of the general elections and the times which will follow.

Enquiries: Ms Xola Nkabinde: 072 8344219
Spokesperson: Bishop Nkosinathi Zondi: 083 445 7423 or 083 3408135