Johannesburg, South Africa, May 13, 2019 / 23:07 pm
In the wake of President Cyril Ramaphosa's successful reelection bid last week, South Africa's Catholic bishops are applauding the country's efforts to hold a free and fair election, but have also issued stern expectations for the new government.
"We congratulate the Independent Electoral Commission and all political parties for creating a conducive environment for [a] free and fair election," the bishops wrote in a May 13 statement signed by Bishop Sithembele Sipuka.
"Now that the election is over, we expect the President of our nation to dispense with the politics of expediency and show firm hand in dealing with those implicated in corruption and state capture," the bishops wrote.
Ramaphosa, a member of the African National Congress (ANC) party which has held power in South Africa since the end of apartheid, first took office in February 2018.