President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed the country’s readiness to hold the 2024 national and provincial elections, calling on all parties, candidates, supporters and every South African to refrain from any action that could interfere with the due electoral process.

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) will administer the special votes expected to be cast on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of election day on Wednesday.

The IEC said more than 1.6-million South Africans have been approved to vote during the special votes. Some 624 593 voters are expected be visited by IEC staff with the rest expected to visit their voting stations.

Ramaphosa expressed concerns at reports that came out on Sunday about the obstruction of election activities, including unlawful entry at IEC storage sites in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Regardless of the outcome, let this election further entrench our democracy and strengthen our commitment to uphold it,” he said.

He commended the IEC for the “impressive work” they have undertaken in preparation for these elections.

“As a country, we have once again witnessed the capabilities of the IEC – in the successful voter registration weekends, in the registration of parties and candidates, in the preparation of ballot papers, in the organisation of overseas voting, and in the diligent application of our electoral laws,” he said.

Ramaphosa said citizens expect this election to be held in conditions of “peace and stability, to be free and to be fair.”

He noted that the country’s elections since 1994 has been possible through the IEC’s integrity, saying this has been made possible not only by the work and conduct of the IEC, but also by the presence of party agents and independent observers.

Ramaphosa said the involvement of party agents gives people confidence that there is effective oversight of all aspects of the electoral process.

“…through the presence of local and international observers we are able to satisfy ourselves that our elections conform not only to our own laws, but also to internationally accepted standards of freeness and fairness,” he explained.

He highlighted that law enforcement agencies and security services have been deployed throughout the country to ensure that there are no disturbances or disruptions to the election process.

Ramaphosa noted that over the course of the last few months, many different parties and candidates have vigorously and enthusiastically campaigned for votes.

He said while the contestation has been robust and has, at times, become heated, campaigning has been “peaceful and free of intimidation”.

He commended all parties that have upheld the Electoral Code of Conduct and that have ensured that their supporters adhere to the democratic principles that have long characterised the country’s elections.