Gauteng Provincial Legislature joins pastors in prayer for upcoming elections
The Gauteng provincial legislature, along with faith leaders, conducted a prayer session at Soshanguve Age of Restoration Ministries Church to pray for the upcoming elections in two weeks. The prayer session aimed to seek peace and ensure that the elections proceeded as planned.
The prayer session was attended by representatives of government departments, the IEC, and law enforcement officials, including the South African Police Service.
In her address, Ms. Dania Ngoso from the Department of Home Affairs said that the prayer session brought together members of the community, churches, and political parties.
While appreciating the election prayers, Ngoso also addressed the backlog of uncollected identity documents.
“We urge those without IDs to obtain one to enable them to cast their votes. There are still unclaimed IDs at Home Affairs, belonging to both deceased and living individuals,” advised Ms. Dania Ngoso.
She further encouraged the community to acquire their identification documents to participate in the voting process. “On Saturdays, Home Affairs will remain open until the elections, from 8 am to 1 pm. If there is still a large number of people at 1 pm, we will keep the office open.
We aim to provide you with the necessary documents for voting. For those who cannot afford IDs, temporary IDs are available for R70, requiring only two ID photos,” she explained.
Ntombi Lentheng Mekgwe, Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, has condemned election campaign ads that evoke images of war within the country.
Expressing her deep concern, she remarked, “I was deeply disturbed by the sight of our flag being burned on television. While it represents South Africa, its significance extends far beyond being a mere symbol of our nation.”
Mekgwe went on to say, “The flag holds the weight of the sacrifices made by countless men and women. Witnessing it desecrated in such a manner is a profound disrespect to their memory.”
She also stressed, “While political competition is expected, we must not lose sight of our unity as a nation. The South African flag serves as a beacon of hope, not just to our citizens but to the world at large.”
Colonel Godfrey Zwane from the Akasia Police Station informed the public that they were prepared to ensure the elections proceeded smoothly and to prevent crime.
“I want to assure you that interventions are in place and strategies are being implemented. There are actions being taken that you might not be aware of, but as the Station Commander, I can confirm that in our Akasia area, we have three sectors, each with 29 voting stations. We have already begun securing these stations,” said Mr. Zwane.
He also urged the community to collaborate with the police and report any crime they encounter as the elections approach.
He emphasised the importance of reporting confidential information directly to him for the safety of the elections, promising to maintain anonymity.
