Voting started late in the country's fifth post-apartheid elections at a number of Western Cape polling stations and in parts of Gauteng on Wednesday.
At Everest informal settlement in Springs, voting was yet to start two hours past the official opening time.
Boksburg and Witbank also had late starts to voting at certain polling stations.
Problems with materials delayed the opening of polling stations in the Rondebosch area in Cape Town, said Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) spokesman Trevor Davids.
The late arrival of ballot boxes also caused a delay at the Manenberg Community Centre on the Cape Flats.
Polling booths were scheduled to open at 7am for South Africa's fifth post-apartheid national and provincial elections.
A strong contingent of police kept watch in the Springs area where public violence, including the torching of a Transnet building and the blocking of streets with burning tyres and rocks, took place earlier this week.
Springs resident Dumisani Khumalo said he would be doing his laundry on Wednesday -- and not much else.
"Today is like any other day, I am doing my washing and after that I am going to buy a couple of beers and stand here on my stoep and watch these sell-outs vote," he said.
In Bekkersdal, west of Johannesburg, security was also tight after two IEC tents was torched on Tuesday.
The erection of a new tent delayed the start of proceedings.
Police and military vehicles patrolled the areas and a police helicopter flew over the area.
Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said on Wednesday that a man had been arrested for setting the IEC tent alight and would face charges of public violence and arson when he appeared in the Westonaria Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
A number of early bird politicians arrived at stations across the country to mark their X.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe and party deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe waited patiently in queues with ordinary South Africans in Boksburg and Colbyn in Pretoria, respectively, to cast their votes.
DA leader Helen Zille, was accompanied her husband, Johann Maree, when she arrived at St Paul's Church in Rondebosch.
Congress of the People president Mosiuoa Lekota said he felt great after voting in Bloemfontein; while in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande said, in particular, it felt good to vote for the ANC.
Wednesday morning saw Ntolwane Primary School in the KwaNxamalala of Nkandla awash with reporters and photographers awaiting the arrival of President Jacob Zuma who was expected to cast his vote mid-morning.
Across the provinces, many elderly people were the first to queue to vote.
In Chiawelo in Soweto, an elderly woman made her way to the polling station on crutches.
Smiling, she told reporters she wasn't sure of her age.
"I don't know how old I am. Let me show you my ID," said Morongoe Monareng, born in 1930.
VOTING DELAYS IN GAUTENG, WCAPE
At Everest informal settlement in Springs, voting was yet to start two hours past the official opening time.
Boksburg and Witbank also had late starts to voting at certain polling stations.
Problems with materials delayed the opening of polling stations in the Rondebosch area in Cape Town, said Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) spokesman Trevor Davids.
The late arrival of ballot boxes also caused a delay at the Manenberg Community Centre on the Cape Flats.
Polling booths were scheduled to open at 7am for South Africa's fifth post-apartheid national and provincial elections.
A strong contingent of police kept watch in the Springs area where public violence, including the torching of a Transnet building and the blocking of streets with burning tyres and rocks, took place earlier this week.
Springs resident Dumisani Khumalo said he would be doing his laundry on Wednesday -- and not much else.
"Today is like any other day, I am doing my washing and after that I am going to buy a couple of beers and stand here on my stoep and watch these sell-outs vote," he said.
In Bekkersdal, west of Johannesburg, security was also tight after two IEC tents was torched on Tuesday.
The erection of a new tent delayed the start of proceedings.
Police and military vehicles patrolled the areas and a police helicopter flew over the area.
Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said on Wednesday that a man had been arrested for setting the IEC tent alight and would face charges of public violence and arson when he appeared in the Westonaria Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
A number of early bird politicians arrived at stations across the country to mark their X.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe and party deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe waited patiently in queues with ordinary South Africans in Boksburg and Colbyn in Pretoria, respectively, to cast their votes.
DA leader Helen Zille, was accompanied her husband, Johann Maree, when she arrived at St Paul's Church in Rondebosch.
Congress of the People president Mosiuoa Lekota said he felt great after voting in Bloemfontein; while in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande said, in particular, it felt good to vote for the ANC.
Wednesday morning saw Ntolwane Primary School in the KwaNxamalala of Nkandla awash with reporters and photographers awaiting the arrival of President Jacob Zuma who was expected to cast his vote mid-morning.
Across the provinces, many elderly people were the first to queue to vote.
In Chiawelo in Soweto, an elderly woman made her way to the polling station on crutches.
Smiling, she told reporters she wasn't sure of her age.
"I don't know how old I am. Let me show you my ID," said Morongoe Monareng, born in 1930.
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