Community protest action delayed the casting of special votes on Monday, 1 August 2016, in six municipalities‚ although a majority of voting stations opened on time in what the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said was a smooth beginning for the polls.

Three motor vehicle accidents and four minor incidents of incorrect ballot papers being delivered mark the start of South Africa’s fifth local government election‚ with the majority of South Africans set to cast their ballots between 7h00 and 19h00 on 3 August 2016.

In a press statement, the IEC says a record 719 222 applications for special votes were approved for the elections – including 315 597 (44 percent) home visits and 403 625 (56 percent) votes to be cast at voting stations.

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