Follow IOL's live updates for all your latest election news and analysis by our journalists across South Africa.
Hundreds of people were still in the queue at the Hunters Hill Fire Station voting station in North Riding.
Presiding officer Reginald Kubeka, who has been up since 4am, said they will only start counting after the last voter casts their vote.
He said the voter management device was the main reason why there had been snaking queues all day. The gate at the police station is being manned by members if the police, who are no longer allowing entry to any new voters.
IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo has ruled out the possibility of a second day of voting after some delays were noted in voting, particularly in the metropolitan areas.
"There are no deliberate delays on the part of the commission, we want to assist everyone in the queue. We have no plan for a second day of voting. Voting will happen until it concludes and until everyone in the queue (by 9pm) is given an opportunity to vote," he said.
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said additional police personnel have been deployed to districts experiencing long queues.
He said the Electoral Commission has briefed the provincial joint operation centre that contingency plans have been put in place, including additional lighting.
“Police remain on high alert as counting of votes will soon begin at some voting stations and police stand ready to handle any eventuality,” he said.
Mkhwanazi said no ballots will move from the voting station to the intended destinations without police escorts.
With just under two hours to go for South Africans to cast their vote at voting stations, IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said all people who were at the voting station by the 9pm cut off would be allowed to vote.
He said the IEC had also deployed counting officers to voting stations before time to help with snaking queues in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KZN and Gauteng metros in particular.
The IEC is anticipating a significant turnout in the May 2024 elections.
Follow IOL for latest election news and analysis
Congress of the People (Cope) leader Mosiuoa Lekota is confident that his party will survive.
"I think Cope will come back, and will rise to the occasion as we move into the future," he said. He stated Cope will go back to Parliament.
Read the full story by Kamogelo Moichela.
Follow IOL for latest election news and analysis
ActionSA’s KwaZulu-Natal Premier candidate, Zwakele Mncwango voted at Pitlochry Primary School in Westville this afternoon.
“We are voting at a time when there are exams at universities and most young people are not at home and did not change their addresses.
“Now we have an election on a Wednesday; yes it is a holiday but, someone studying in Cape Town or Pretoria, it is difficult to leave the university and go home and vote,” said Mncwango.
Police Ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba told IOL that South Africans should not be afraid to go out and vote at later hours.
“There are about 23,000 voting stations across the country. They have each been categorised. The majority of these voting stations are low-risk, there are also medium and high-risk ones.
Themba went on to say that each voting station will have police presence. “In low-risk areas for example there will be two police officers, in medium-risk polls, the number of officers will increase.”
EFF leader Julius Malema and his wife Mantoa Matlala arrived at Mponegele Lower Primary School to cast their vote.
Malema and Mantoa voted in Seshego, Limpopo.
Malema was also flanked by his former secretary general, Godrich Gardee, and he wore a pro-Palestine scarf. The EFF is the third biggest party in South Africa and they will be hoping to become one of the kingmakers in these elections.
The incoming President of South Africa @Julius_S_Malema accompanied by our First Lady Ms Mantoa Matlala have arrived at Mponegele Lower Primary School to cast their vote. #VoteEFF #MalemaForSAPresident #IamVotingEFF pic.twitter.com/eRo36ml5mY
Former president Jacob Zuma votes in his hometown Nkandla, in KwaZulu-Natal, a key election battleground, during the general election.
The former president, dressed in an MK Party-branded shirt and cap, made history on Wednesday, as the first and only former African National Congress (ANC) president to leave the ruling party in support of another party contesting the elections.
Police in the Western Cape are on high alert as voters take to the polls to cast their votes in the 2024 general election.
According to Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, police officers, as well as members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) had been deployed and more officers were deployed at the 49 hotspot areas across Cape Town.
Follow IOL for latest election news and analysis
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy president Floyd Shivambu casted his vote at Moses Kotane Primary School in Braamfischerville, Soweto on Wednesday.
Shivambu said they are expecting at least 50 plus one percent if not a “decisive clear victory” after the 2024 national and provincial elections.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says his address to the nation at the weekend was to speak on the readiness for the national general election and to reflect on the work done by the sixth administration.
Ramaphosa was speaking after he and his wife, Dr Tshepo Motsepe, cast their votes at the Hitekani Primary School, in Soweto.
Read the full story by Se-Anne Rall
Follow IOL for latest election news and analysis
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen cast his vote at a polling station at the Northwood School in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
Along with Steenhuisen at the polling station, there were various members of the party, including KZN Premier Candidate Chris Pappas.
Speaking outside the polling station, Steenhuisen said that he was confident that the people of the Western Cape will reward the DA for the work that the party has done, including for its excellent stewardship of the economy as well as clean and accountable government and the jobs that they have created.
Read the full story by Dhivana Rajgopaul.
Former South African President and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma casted his ballot at Ntolwane Primary School polling station in Nkandla. South Africans take to the polls in what may be the most consequential election in decades.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is expecting to equal if not surpass the 66% voter turnout of 2019 when the final ballots are counted tonight for the 2024 elections.
IEC deputy chief electoral officer, Masego Sheburi at a press briefing at the IEC’s National Results Operations in Midrand on Wednesday afternoon said that all 23,292 voting stations had opened by midday on voting day despite some early glitches at some stations.
He said that at 7am when the polls were meant to open, 93% of all the polling stations had opened and the remainder by midday. Some of the delays in opening the polling stations included materials being delivered late and protest action in some communities.
Early indications, he noted, pointed to a high voter turnout.
Defend the democratic gains through the ballot, says KZN Premier Dube-Ncube
"It feels like yesterday when we, the majority, voted for the first time in 1994. Voting here today is a poignant occasion because it rekindles the feelings of triumph as well as sorrow since our freedom was bought through blood, sweat and tears. That is why I urge those who have not come out to vote, to do so and defend our democracy and freedom," she said.
Follow IOL for latest election news and analysis
National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) said there was no headache on the interference of foreign governments or organisations in the elections.
Chairperson of NatJoints, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said the law enforcement apparatus in the country is ready and capable to deal with any threats – local or international.
Follow IOL for latest election news and analysis
WATCH : Andrea Nel and Anthony Lawrence say their experience at the Paarl Community Hall was much better than in the previous elections. They spoke to IOL journalist John Goliath
Follow IOL for latest election news and analysis
WATCH : Retshepile Mashego is a first-time voter. She explains what is so important about this election.
Queue around the block at Wierda Independent School voting station in Centurion, Gauteng reports IOL Journalist Michael Sherman.
VOICES FROM THE GROUND : Immameleng Raphuthing, 50, a resident from Soweto says she's been voting for 30 years but has not reaped any benefit from the ANC government.
EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu has arrived at the Moses Kotane Primary School in Braamfisher, Soweto where he is expected to cast his vote.
First hours of polling stations opening see thousands voting and political party leaders making their mark
With some voting stations seeing queuing lines as young and old make their mark. With the youth coming out in numbers to let their vote count.
The network of 23,292 voting stations across the country opened at 7am and will be opened until 9pm. If you find yourself in the queues at 9pm, are eligible to vote but have not done so, the IEC said that you won’t be turned away and will be allowed to vote.
WATCH: Pilot flies SA flag across Durban to encourage more locals to go out and vote
Pilot Reinhardt Hanel has taken to the skies on Wednesday morning, to fly a giant South African flag across the Durban, hoping to encourage people to go out and vote.
Speaking to IOL, he said he'll be flying the 400sqm flag from uMhlanga, across Durban.
“Some years ago, we built it so that we had it on hand in the event that South Africa was to host a major event or there was a need to celebrate a milestone in our democracy! I think we have reached such a milestone as we celebrate 30 years of democracy,” he said.
Read the full story here
WATCH : DA Party leader John Steenhuisen casts his vote at the Northwood Boys High School in Durban. Video : Dhivana Rajgopal / IOL
Gauteng ANC chairperson Panyaza Lesufi, who is also Premier of Gauteng has joined a queue of voters at Thuto Ke Maatla Engineering School of Specialisation in Tembisa.
Scores of people lined up to cast their vote at the voting station at Pliny Street in Athlone. It is significantly more people at the venue at this time (10.30am) than usual. Excitement is palpable.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, flanked by his wife Humile, has cast his vote at the St Johannes Lutheran Church in Kelvin, Sandton.
Mashatile said they were confident the elections would run smoothly and said the executive was not concerned about any security issues. A SAPS helicopter hovered over the Sandton skies as he cast his vote. He is expected to conduct some voting station visits in Alexandra.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says confident that people will vote for the ANC. He says under his leadership, the ruling party has gone to the breadth and lengths of the country to encourage people to vote.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has joined the queue at the Sandton Fire Station voting station. Speaking to the media he reiterated the party would not work with the ANC or the EFF. Mashaba says Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and ANC will not return to office.
South African Police Service Minister Bheki Cele cast his vote in Lamontville in Durban.
DA leader John Steenhuisen has cast his vote at Northwood Boys in Durban North.
Democratic Alliance’s Premier candidate for Gauteng, Solly Msimanga made his vote at the Chinese School in Wingate Park in Tshwane on Wednesday.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has joined the queue at the Sandton Fire Station voting station. Speaking to the media he reiterated the party would not work with the ANC or the EFF. Mashaba says Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and ANC will not return in office.
This is where and when leaders of the leading political parties are set to vote
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is expected to vote at the Thuto Ke Matla Engineering School of Specialisation in Thembisa.
EFF leader Julius Malema will cast his vote in his Seshego home town, while his Deputy President Floyd Shivambu is expected to cast his vote in Mofolo, Soweto.
Bosa leader Mmusi Maimane will vote at the Dobsonville Presbyterian Church.ActionSA leader
Herman Mashaba is also expected to vote at the Sandton Fire Station at 9am.
In Centurion, voting got off to a slow start at Wierda Independent School, as an IEC official arrived at the voting station in a silver Polo after 7am with boxes presumably containing ballots. By 7.30am no member of the public had cast their vote yet as the queue began to snake around the block.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the MK Party leader former president Jacob Zuma is expected to vote at the Ntolwane Primary School in Nkandla.
DA leader John Steenhuisen is expected to cast his vote at the Northwood High School in Durban North.
KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube will vote at the Nkulisabantu Primary School, in KwaMashu.
The IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa is also expected to cast his vote Kwa Hlabisa.
In the Western Cape, Premier Alan Winde is expected to cast his vote at the Jan Van Riebeeck High School in Cape Town.
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton Mckenzie is expected to vote in Kraaifontein.Good leader and Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille is also expected to vote in Cape Town.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said it’s all systems go as the country heads to the voting polls on Wednesday.
Speaking at a media briefing following the wrapping up of two days of special votes, the commission said the network of 23,292 voting stations will open for voting from 7am and will close at 9pm.
“It is important to emphasise that eligible voters who will be at the voting station at 9pm will be allowed to vote and not turned away,” the IEC said.
“We reiterate that voters must vote where they are registered. The general rule in elections is that a person votes at a voting station where they have registered,” it said.
“The only exception to the general rule is that a voter may vote outside of their registered voting district only after notifying the CEO. Notifications in this regard closed on May 17. Approximately 360,000 voters have been approved to vote outside their voting districts.”