Problems aside, first and foremost we must congratulate ourselves on a job well done...the civic duty of voting.
Now that the dust of election day is settling and we are preparing for the undoubtedly torrent of complaints and accusations that will emerge – even before the results are announced – we, ordinary South Africans, must take a moment to reflect.
But, above all, we must congratulate ourselves for a job well done... the civic duty of voting.
2024 ELECTION LIVE UPDATES: There will not be a second day of voting despite technical glitches and long queues
Your vote yesterday may have been for a particular party or parties, or even individuals, but it was more than that: it was a great vote of confidence in South African democracy.
Despite countless glitches at polling stations across the country, voters largely took it in good spirits, remembering those happy times 30 years ago when everyone had the opportunity to vote for the first time.
In an exercise of this magnitude – and this was the biggest choice However, in terms of supplies and support that people needed, there were surely aspects that did not go smoothly.
There were scanners that did not work, requiring manual verification, which delayed the process. In some places there were not enough staff or supplies.
But none of this meant an election that was not substantially free and fair.
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Worryingly, the South African Electoral Commission (IEC) has come under fire in recent days, particularly by Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe party, for allegedly helping the ANC manipulate the results.
The IEC may have been appointed by the government, but in all our dealings with its senior officials, we have not found anything that would call into question the credibility of the organization.
By raising doubts about the CIS, Zuma and his comrades are threatening the very essence of democracy, being prepared to bring down the entire house if they lose.
