It is encouraging that the number of South Africans who have registered to vote in the next general elections has exceeded the Independent Electoral Commission's expectations.

It is encouraging that the number of South Africans who have registered to vote in the next general elections has exceeded the Independent Electoral Commission's expectations.

South Africans know better than most how important the vote is. It was, along with land and dignity, the call that many of our finest sons and daughters were willing to sacrifice their youth, comfort and, in many cases, their lives for.

It has been said time and again that these will be the most important elections since 1994. The message that millions of South Africans are sending to all of us in civil society is that they have high expectations of these elections.

We in the media often find it easy to point fingers at others and to remind them of what they ought to do to ensure that these expectations are met.

Election era journalism is always difficult. Political parties assume the worst of the media's credibility and impartiality. We expect that with the high stakes in these elections the charges will be even harsher than usual.

We at Sowetan pledge to uphold the highest standards and ethics of journalism in the coverage of this important election in our history.

We hope that you the reader will be our conscience, eyes and ears, and will remind us whenever we seem to part from this path.