An Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) polling station official prepares the ballot papers at Hyde Park High School polling station in Johannesburg,
MIDRAND - The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it has made significant progress across the country despite isolated incidents.
According to the Commission's preliminary estimates, approximately 12 million voters have cast their votes by 5pm on Wednesday.
In its latest media briefing, IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said Gauteng recorded the highest number of voters of about 3 million.
READ | IN PICS | Millions of South Africans have their say at the polls
It was followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 2.5 million, then the Western Cape with 1.5 million, the Eastern Cape with 1.4 million, Limpopo with1.1 million, Mpumalanga with 854,000, North West with 702,000, the Free State with 588,000, and lastly the Northern Cape at 299,000.
With voting scheduled to close at 9pm, Mamabolo has urged eligible voters who have not yet cast their ballots to make their way to their registered voting stations.
“The Commission reassures voters that anyone who arrives at a voting station before nine will be allowed to vote, even if the voting process extends beyond the official time of nine o'clock. This means every voter who is in the queue by the time of closing will not be turned away,” he said.