South Africa To Hold Fifth General Election

Some 22,000 polling stations will open in schools, places of worship, tribal authority sites and hospitals, while dozens of vehicles serving as mobile voting centres will operate in remote areas.

About 25 million people have registered to vote which translates to almost half the population.

Police say at least one officer will be on duty at every polling station and troops have also been deployed to keep order at various hotspots.

The governing party African National Congress (ANC) is expected to win the elections although it may lose some ground due to high unemployment and graft

ANC has a strong following and is tipped to win returning President Jacob Zuma for a second term.

The opposition parties and their candidates include Democratic Alliance, led by anti-apartheid activist Helen Zille and the Economic Freedom Fighters, headed by former ANC youth leader Julius Malema.

The ANC's campaign has drawn heavily on past glories and on the outpouring of grief over the death of its former leader, Nelson Mandela.

"Do it for Madiba, Vote ANC!" campaign posters read, referring to Mr Mandela by his clan name.

But many commentators say this election could be the last to be dominated by South Africa's post-apartheid legacy.

President Zuma is expected to vote at his Nkandala homestead in rural KwaZulu-Natal while opposition leader Helen Zille will vote in Cape Town.

By Beth Nyaga

Source: BBC News