It's D-day to have your say — South Africans get in line to make their mark

The politicians have had their say during campaigning, and two days of special votes have been cast. Now, since dawn on Wednesday, South Africans have been making their way to wait in line at voting stations around the country to make their mark at the ballot box – three X-es in all – in the national and provincial elections, 30 years into democracy. Daily Maverick’s 2024 elections team has been reporting and filming from multiple stations – as well as from a helicopter – as voting gains momentum, with more than 27.6 million people registered to vote. Stations will be open until 9pm, then the counting begins to determine who will run the country.

People queue at the Hospital Hill township to vote during the South African elections, in Johannesburg, South Africa May 29, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS / Ihsaan Haffejee) TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

By Daily Maverick

29 May 2024

elections Alexandra, Johannesburg Voters queue to cast their ballot in Alexandra, Johannesburg, at 7.44am. (Photo from Hot 102.7 chopper: Julia Evans)

Inmates queue at Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town. (Photo: Reuters / Esa Alexander)

Cyril Soweto President Cyril Ramaphosa and first lady, Dr Tshepo Motsepe, vote at Hitekani Primary School in Chiawelo, Soweto. (Photo: Jairus Mmutle / GCIS)

Good party leader Patricia de Lille votes at Pinelands Primary School in Cape Town. (Photo: Gallo Images / ER Lombard)

Kgalema JHB Former president and deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe votes at the Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo)

JHB Former president and deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe after voting at the Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo)

A woman on her way to vote in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal. (Photo: Reuters / Rogan Ward)

The voting station at Riverside College in Cape Town. (Photo: Gallo Images / Misha Jordaan)

Voters at Sivuyiseni Primary School in Khayelitsha. (Photo: Shelley Christians)

A woman outside a voting station in Eshowe, northern KwaZulu-Natal. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Sandile Ndlovu)

A voters leaves a voting station in Eshowe, northern KwaZulu-Natal. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Sandile Ndlovu)

The queue at Sivuyiseni Primary School in Khayelitsha. (Photo: Shelley Christians)

A cardboard cutout of President Cyril Ramaphosa greets voters at Sivuyiseni Primary School in Khayelitsha. (Photo: Shelley Christians)

Voting under way at Sivuyiseni Primary School in Khayelitsha. (Photo: Shelley Christians)

Western Cape premier Alan Winde casts his vote at Jan van Riebeeck High School in Cape Town. (Photo: Gallo Images / Ziyaad Douglas)

Former KZN Premier Sbu Ndebele Former KwaZulu-Natal premier Sbu Ndebele votes at Northwood Boys High School in Durban. (Photo: Gallo Images / Darren Stewart)

John Steenhuisen, DA leader John Steenhuisen – with his daughter, Caroline (16) – votes at Northwood Boys High School in Durban. (Photo: Gallo Images / Darren Stewart)

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba casts his vote at the Sandton Fire Station. (Photo: Supplied)

People warm up before the voting station opens in the Woolf informal settlement in Ekurhuleni. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Limpopo Election day in Seshego, Limpopo. (Photo: Reuters / Alet Pretorius)

Deputy President Paul Mashatile prepares to cast his ballot at the St Johannes Lutheran Church in Johannesburg. (Photo: Gallo Images / Lubabalo Lesolle)

Residents of Villa Liza in Ekurhuleni queue to vote. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Nonkosi Ngindane (62) at the Luleka Primary School voting station in Harare, Khayelitsha. 'I like this thing (voting). Us 1961 people couldn’t vote. So I’m excited when it’s time to vote because I can vote,' she said. (Photo: Shelley Christians)

Limpopo A cardboard cutout of ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa waves next to a campaign tent at Mahlanhle Primary School in Ga Mahlanhle, Limpopo. (Photo: Reuters / Alet Pretorius)