Ella Smook And Nomangesi Mbiza
31 December 2008
South African leaders have delivered their parting shots for 2008 and expressed their hopes for South Africa in 2009, with their focus firmly on the looming general elections.
The message to South Africans from this year's favourite bad boy, ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, was clear: "Our focus is to secure victory for the ANC. All South Africans must go out and vote ANC."
Malema said the league was determined to mobilise all young people in the new year to register and vote for the ruling party.
In his closing remarks for 2008, ANC president Jacob Zuma hoped for an all-round improved society.
"Moving forward to 2009, we must go further in promoting national unity and non-racialism in our homes, work, schools, churches, sports, arts and culture and all aspects of our lives," he said in his "Letter from the President".
South Africans also had to work on improving their attitudes towards people from other countries, striving for a society that was free of xenophobia and other intolerances.
And he urged ANC members to work professionally with all opposition parties leading up to the elections.
Addressing the controversies and concerns of the year, Zuma said that there was nothing that needed changing in the country's constitution, and that the ANC posed "no threat" to the constitution.
"We must also promote respect for the independence of the judiciary, prosecuting authorities and all instruments of our legal system," he said.
He called for peaceful, free and fair elections, urging South Africans to put the country first and adding that "the ANC must not be found wanting in this regard".
The leader of the DA and official best mayor of the world, Helen Zille, said she would count down to 2009 with a toast to South Africa and all its children.
She and Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille both hoped that the elections would be free of intimidation and violence.
"We are on the threshold of an election that offers us the chance to show we are maturing as a democracy," said Zille.
She said she was still working on her isiXhosa, and had added this task to her New Year's resolutions. She also wanted to keep her desk a tad tidier.
De Lille hoped the New Year would allow us "reflection on how far we as a nation have come 15 years into democracy".
The Western Cape's first lady, Premier Lynne Brown, wished: "If we can just generally become a better and more caring nation."
She said people should take care of those who were vulnerable, such as children and senior citizens.
And, to the new kid on the block, the last word... COPE Deputy President Mbhazima Shilowa reflected on the birth of the new party, saying it had successfully "put the peg in the ground, to which we should all tie ourselves in defence of the constitution, rule of law and democracy".
"A momentous year lies ahead... Rest for a few days, knowing that the real work to defend democracy starts in the New Year."
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