'Everyone must vote' - Mbeki

2006-03-01 08:23

Pretoria - Everybody in the country needs to understand the importance of local government, President Thabo Mbeki said on Wednesday.

He was the first person to vote at the Colbyn polling station in Pretoria.

"I'm very keen to vote," Mbeki told Brigalia Bam, chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, and Chief Electoral Officer Pansy Tlakula.

He arrived a few minutes before 07:00 and had to wait for the voting station to open.

At one stage, he checked the wristwatch of one of the IEC officials to ensure voting started on time.

When the station opened, Mbeki's ID document was checked. He joked with officials that it was not stolen and then proceeded to vote.

"I hope that all our people, all 21 million (registered voters), will come out to vote because we need a very strong and legitimate local government."

The sun was shining in Pretoria on Wednesday after days of showers and Mbeki urged voters in parts of the country where it was raining to also vote.

"We cannot, because it rained on March 1, not vote for a local government that will be in power for the next five years."

- SAPA