Today’s National and Provincial Elections mark 30 years of democracy in South Africa. The hope that coloured the nation in rainbow hues back in 1994 has faded, and with the dominance of the ANC waning, South Africa could be on the brink of change.

The ANC has dominated politics in South Africa over the past three decades, but has steadily lost votes in the past national elections. In 2019, it won 57% of the votes, a drop from the 62% achieved in 2014, and a 12% drop from the 69% it achieved in 2004.

The main opposition party, the DA, achieved 20.7% of the votes in the last general election and the EFF 10.8%, up from the 6% it achieved in 2014, the year after its formation.

For the first time, today’s elections include independent candidates on the national and regional ballots. With independents and new parties in the mix, the eyes of the world are on South Africa to see if the ANC slips below the majority of votes, which parties’ stars are rising, and what coalitions will be formed should outright majorities not be won nationally or in the provinces.

Special votes

Last night, the IEC said indications are that 937 144 voters had been processed.

“This figure is much higher than was the case in the previous elections and augurs well for turnout tomorrow.”

Voters who were unable to cast a special vote can still vote at their voting station today. Voting stations are open until 21:00. Eligible voters who are at their voting station at 21h00 will be allowed to vote and will not be turned away.

While the IEC thanked South Africans who assisted and co-operated with electoral officials in the execution of their duties, it is concerned with incidents of unlawful conduct directed at its operations or against electoral officials.

One such incident was alleged death threats and intimidation against IEC officials by two political parties in Mpumalanga.

Voters make their mark

Polling stations opened at 07:00 across the country this morning.

In KZN, the Zululand Observer’s editor Dave Savides was at the John Ross polling station where he spoke to Leon Gerber, the first voter in line to make his mark.

Watch the interview:

Mpumalanga’s Lowvelder interviewed one of the first voters at Laerskool Bergland. She said that voting started 15 minutes late, but went well.

Watch the video:

Prospective voters also started queueing early at Lowveld Country Club in Nelspruit, with vehicles overflowing from the parking lot into the streets.

Procedure at the voting station

Voters must take their South African ID or temporary ID with them to their voting station.

• Each voter will be verified on the voters’ roll and marked with ink on their left thumb.
• Each voter will receive three ballot papers: The national, regional, and provincial ballot papers. Voters must indicate their choices with one mark on each ballot.
• Each ballot paper will be validated with a stamp on the reverse. Check your ballots are stamped.
• All three ballots must be deposited in the ballot box at the voting station.
• It is prohibited for a voter to take a photograph of their marked ballot paper.

Elections will also take place at correctional services facilities throughout the country.

The South African Weather Service forecasts fair to good weather conditions across the country. However, necessary steps have been taken to manage the potential negative effect of inclement weather on the voting and counting processes, said the IEC.

In addition, Eskom has given assurances that there are no plans for scheduled maintenance work or load-shedding today.

Voters who have not collected their ID or wish to apply for a temporary ID can do so at their Home Affairs office until 21:00 today.