South Africans have begun casting their votes in the country’s sixth
democratic general election since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Here are some key facts about the election:
- There are 26.7 million South Africans registered to vote, almost half
of the population. - Voters will cast ballots at 22,925 polling stations that opened at
07:00 hours and will remain open until 21:00 hours. - As many as 29,000 South African expatriates cast their ballots at
various foreign diplomatic missions a week and a half ago. - There are 48 political parties contesting the national elections with
the ANC, the DA and the EFF at the fore. - South Africans vote in National and Provincial Elections every 5
years. - In terms of the Constitution, the elections must be held within 90 days
of the expiry of the sitting National Assembly and Provincial
Legislatures. - The election date is proclaimed by the President of the Republic of
South Africa. - Voters will cast ballots for national legislators and leaders of the country’s nine provinces. Voters do not directly elect individual candidates. They vote for a political party.
- National and provincial elections are two different elections to
choose representatives to the National Assembly and Provincial
Legislatures. Although they are different elections, they are held on
the same day. - Using a proportional representation system, the number of votes cast
for each party will determine the number of seats it gets in parliament.
Each party will then distribute the seats to a list of pre-selected
members. - The lawmakers will then elect the country’s president from the party
that receives majority of the votes. The first sitting of the new
parliament is provisionally scheduled for May 22. - Provincial assemblies comprise of between 30 and 80 members, from
where four members are picked to serve in the upper house of the
National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces. - Final results from the elections must be released within seven days. The Independent Electoral Commission has announced that results will be released on Saturday.
Are you a South African voter? Here are the voting procedures for you:
• Find your correct voting station
• Present your valid identification document to the door controller at
the entrance of the voting station
• Check that you are on the voters’ roll
• Get your ballot papers
• Get your identification documents stamped
• Find an empty voting booth and make your ‘X’
• Cast your vote
• Ensuring voting is free and fair