Read Scrolla.Africa’s afternoon live updates.
12.15pm – At 11.45 am, the queue was still very short in Veeplaas, Gqeberha, with people slowly trickling in. Voting is, however, going smoothly. (Anita Dangazele, Gqerberha)
12pm – When Scrolla.Africa rocked up at the George voting station, a would-be voter was questioning a woman at the DA tent about regional and provincial registration. The woman, who looked like a perfect candidate for Helen Zille’s stunt double, was in fact the DA’s federal council chair, doing the rounds in sunny George on voting day. From there, Zille moved on to the Rosemoor polling station. Her presence indicated how important it has become for the party to retain the Southern Cape capital as a DA stronghold. (Esther de Villiers, George)
12pm – There was a brief commotion at the Corovoca Primary School voting station in the north of Durban, where ID scanners were not working, delaying impatient voters. A similar commotion happened in Lamontville, where impatient voters started confronting IEC staff about the same matter. (Sihle Mavuso, Durban)
11.50am – Former president Thabo Mbeki has voted at Tata Nelson Mandela’s voting station in Killarney, Johannesbuurg. Mbeki was recently admitted to hospital for a week after catching the H1N1 flu strain. He had to pull out of election campaigning after catching the virus in Durban. Mbeki said he was already struggling with a lung infection when he caught the flu. The former president, who is on the recovery path, was wearing a mask. “It’s very important that all of us come out to vote,” he said. “The ANC must renew itself because it is very important to the future of this country.”
11.45am – Gugulethu residents came out to cast their votes at Siyazingisa Primary School. Several voters said they are interested in this year’s polls because new political parties are contesting elections for the first time. (Buziwe Nocuze, Gugulethu)
11.45am – The Arbor Park voting station has been open since 6.30am, with a steady stream of voters arriving since then. Although the initial turnout has not been very high, more voters are expected throughout the day. (Zuzile Ndlela, Arbor Park)
11.30am – Political parties are making their last attempt to convince voters outside the Fundakahle Primary School voting station in Umlazi R Section, south of Durban. (Celani Sikhakhane, Durban)
11.10am – Former KZN ANC chairperson and outgoing Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, was chased away from Lindelani township by MK Party members while checking on the voting process this morning.
11.05am – Voting in Walmer township was swift, and voters said they were very happy with the voting process. Gogo Nomsa Masiza, 73, said she had been voting since the first democratic election in 1994, and for the first time, she finished voting earlier than expected. Most parties were represented at Walmer Junior Primary School, including the newly formed MK Party, whose agents said they were confident they would get support in Nelson Mandela Bay. Meanwhile, the Christian Assemblies International church was filled to the brim with voters who had been queuing under the scorching sun. Residents said while the queues were separate for the elderly and the youth, they were moving very slowly. One voter said: “We’ve been here since 8.30am, it doesn’t make sense that we’re still here at this hour.” (Anita Dangazele, Walmer)
11.05am – The voting queue is building up at Fundakahle Primary School in Umlazi R Section, south of Durban. (Celani Sikhakhane, Umlazi)
10.55am – Voting started slowly in some upmarket areas of Springs compared to the neighbouring townships of Kwa-Thema, Tsakani, and Duduza, where queues were already long when voting stations opened this morning. Nonhlanhla, a voter from Tsakani, said she decided to vote early as she still had to go to work. “It is important for me to cast my vote; maybe this will come with more job opportunities,” she said. (Doreen Mokgolo, Springs)
10.45am – Elderly people, mothers, and fathers at Syabonga High School in Illovo township in Durban, waited from 6.30am to vote. Different political parties are present, helping the elderly. Some voters hoped for change, while others doubted it, predicting stage 8 load shedding after the elections. (Zuziwe Susan, Durban)
10.35am – President Cyril Ramaphosa voted at Hitekani Primary School in Chiawelo, Soweto, the township where he grew up. “It’s wonderful to meet so many people who are here to vote for the stabilisation of our country. It is a very big day for the people of our country when South Africa decides on the future of our country, and who should lead the government of South Africa. I have no doubt whatsoever in my heart of hearts that the people will once again express confidence in the ANC to continue to lead this country.”
10.35am – Former Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool voted at the same voting station where the Good party leader, Patricia De Lillie, voted, at Pinelands Primary School in the Western Cape. (Buziwe Nocuze)
10.35am – eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda joined millions of South Africans to cast his vote at the Pitlochry Primary School voting station in Westville, where over 2,000 people are registered to vote. (Celani Sikhakhane, Westville)
10.30am – Voters at Bloemfontein South High School were angry on Wednesday morning after allegations that there were only two instead of three sets of ballot papers at the voting station. The IEC promised a quick investigation into the matter.
10.15am – Walmer residents, young and old, braved the early morning heat to cast their votes. New parents Lina and Riaan Marias woke up early to cast their vote with their six-month-old daughter Kylie. Lina said: “The voting process was swift, and officials were nice enough to let us skip the queue because we have a baby. Voting didn’t even take three minutes.” (Anita Dangazele, Walmer)
10.15am – Prince Afrika Zulu of Onkweni, former spokesperson for King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, announced he won’t be voting to avoid showing political bias. (Celani Sikhakhane)
Pictured above: Voting queue.
Image source: Toby Shapshak
