As elections predictions go, the easiest to make was that the ANC would win the polls and one Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma would then be installed as the country's next president. The only question was what the margin of victory would be.
This has duly happened, bar the Independent Electoral Commission making itofficial.
As we stated on this space yesterday, the people have spoken. Indications are that the ANC has achieved yet another runaway victory, thus ending one of the hardest fought and sometimes quite brutal electioneering.
Now is the time to heal the divisions that the elections would have created among South Africans and among the politicians involved in the skirmishes that come with multiparty democracy politicking.
The chosen government is the government of all South Africans, and not only of the victorious party. The president to be elected will be the leader of all South Africans and not only of those who supported him.
Those who did not vote for the ANC owe the party and the next president of the country the respect that comes with the office, regardless of how they might feel about the incumbent.
Similarly, those who supported the party and its leader through the tough times leading to his being elected president should desist from the temptation of triumphalism.
Now is not the time to bask in the glory of victory, no matter how sweet. It is a time to heal the nation and start working towards the prosperous future that all the parties have agreed on.
We expect that the victors and those feeling vanquished will extend the hand of goodwill - to support our new government and for it to take the positive lessons of their opponents as they start planning how to make South Africa a better country for the next five years.
All the parties have had enough time putting each other down. It is now time that all those who have been given the rare privilege of representing the will of South Africans in the various legislatures must start putting South Africa first.
Time to heal the nation
As elections predictions go, the easiest to make was that the ANC would win the polls and one Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma would then be installed as the country's next president. The only question was what the margin of victory would be.
This has duly happened, bar the Independent Electoral Commission making itofficial.
As we stated on this space yesterday, the people have spoken. Indications are that the ANC has achieved yet another runaway victory, thus ending one of the hardest fought and sometimes quite brutal electioneering.
Now is the time to heal the divisions that the elections would have created among South Africans and among the politicians involved in the skirmishes that come with multiparty democracy politicking.
The chosen government is the government of all South Africans, and not only of the victorious party. The president to be elected will be the leader of all South Africans and not only of those who supported him.
Those who did not vote for the ANC owe the party and the next president of the country the respect that comes with the office, regardless of how they might feel about the incumbent.
Similarly, those who supported the party and its leader through the tough times leading to his being elected president should desist from the temptation of triumphalism.
Now is not the time to bask in the glory of victory, no matter how sweet. It is a time to heal the nation and start working towards the prosperous future that all the parties have agreed on.
We expect that the victors and those feeling vanquished will extend the hand of goodwill - to support our new government and for it to take the positive lessons of their opponents as they start planning how to make South Africa a better country for the next five years.
All the parties have had enough time putting each other down. It is now time that all those who have been given the rare privilege of representing the will of South Africans in the various legislatures must start putting South Africa first.