South Africa Braces for General Elections

On Wednesday, 29 May, South Africans will queue together to cast their national and provincial votes in the country’s seventh democratic general election since apartheid was dismantled in the early 1990s.

Polling stations – of which there will be a total of 23 292 spread across the nation – will be open from 7am to 9pm to make the process as easy and convenient as possible. Those who have special needs – for example, pregnant women and people with disabilities – will be able to select their preferred candidates today, Monday 27 May, and tomorrow.

Some South Africans have already cast their vote, as registered voters living abroad were able to submit their ballots on 17 and 18 May.

The African National Congress (ANC) has ruled the country for three decades but some believe that the upcoming elections will see a noticeable shift in power. According to reports, 42% of the registered voters are under 40 years old, with some of the youth encouraging each other to vote for anyone but the ANC.

The Independent Electoral Commission has revealed that a record 27.29 million citizens have registered to vote, the highest number to date.

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