South Africa votes today as IEC declares readiness for polls

South Africa is set to cast ballots in local government elections on Wednesday, with the Electoral Commission (IEC) confident it is prepared for the polls. After two days of special voting that saw over 1.4 million South Africans participate, IEC chairperson Sy Mamabolo reported on Tuesday that the Commission's operations were ready.

During the special voting, 1,425,942 voters cast their ballots, with 974,852 at voting stations and 451,090 through home visits. While the first day of special voting went smoothly, the IEC acknowledged some delays in Cape Town due to late ballot paper deliveries. However, all affected stations reopened and remained operational.

Gauteng recorded the highest number of special votes at 264,898, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (208,846), Eastern Cape (207,258), Limpopo (180,627), Mpumalanga (149,714), Western Cape (148,493), North West (126,817), and the Free State (75,946).

Once voting stations close on Wednesday evening, all special vote ballots will be securely stored and counted alongside the Election Day ballots. The IEC has deployed 188,000 election officials nationwide to ensure a smooth and efficient voting process. Voters are urged to report to their registered voting stations and bring a valid South African identity document.

Mamabolo emphasized the importance of protecting the secrecy of every vote and warned against taking photographs of marked ballot papers. As campaigning winds down, he called on voters, political parties, and candidates to ensure a peaceful election day, urging all stakeholders to uphold democratic principles and respect the electoral process.