As I cast my vote this morning, I felt I had achieved a milestone, for this is the 10th time I have voted in a democratic election. It makes me proud to think that we have come this far as a nation.

With every election I am reminded of the years of struggle and hope that brought us to this point of being able to vote. Knowing what it took to get here, I exercise my right to vote with tremendous pride. I hope you will too.

My only sadness this morning is feeling the absence of my wife, Princess Irene. For all these years we have gone together to our voting station at the Buthelezi Traditional Court House / Council Offices, and cast our votes together. I miss sharing this and so many other moments with her.

I know that she would be just as excited for the coming election results, because as much as we worried about our country, we have always maintained hope that South Africa can be restored to the right path.

Let’s pray that, today, South Africans will do it!