Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called on South Africans to vote responsibly, saying each vote honours those who fought for freedom. He spoke at a wreath laying ceremony for liberation leader Oliver Reginald Tambo on Tuesday.
The ceremony was held at the Tamboville Cemetery in Benoni, according to SAnews. Tambo, a former leader of the African National Congress, died in April 1993.
“Every election is an opportunity to honour those who fought, suffered, and died for the freedoms we enjoy today. Every vote cast is a tribute to their sacrifice,” Mashatile said.
He said responsible voting is an act of remembrance. He added that democracy was won through struggle, and that keeping it needs every citizen to take part.
Tambo died a year before most South Africans voted for the first time in 1994. Mashatile said his death was a “powerful reminder that the right to vote should never be taken for granted”.
He said Tambo was not alone. According to the Deputy President, thousands of men and women gave their lives so that later generations could choose their future through the ballot box.
This year’s theme is “Honouring O.R. Tambo’s Legacy: Inspiring Active Citizenship and Responsible Voting”. Mashatile asked citizens to think carefully about what it means.
“He believed in democracy, ethical leadership, justice, equality, and above all, the power of ordinary people to shape the future of their country,” he said of Tambo.
Mashatile also said South Africans should respect election results and let democratic institutions do their work. He said this was part of keeping Tambo’s memory alive.
“We honour his legacy when we engage peacefully, vote responsibly, and respect the will of the people, even when the outcome may not be the one we had hoped for,” he said.
The Deputy President said government has a duty to deal with poverty, unemployment, crime, inequality and gender-based violence. He said building the nation also needs ordinary people to get involved.
“We cannot afford to be spectators in the project of building our nation. We must all be active participants,” Mashatile said.
He said leaders in government must lead this work. But he said lasting progress will only come when government, communities, civil society, business and citizens work together.
According to Mashatile, active citizenship shows when people volunteer in their communities, stand against corruption and crime, and help vulnerable people.
South Africans will vote in the Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026.
Source: this article is based on reporting by SAnews.gov.za. Image: GCIS via SAnews.gov.za. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.