Polls closed in South Africa on Wednesday as nationwide elections seem to almost certainly keep the ruling ANC in power despite frustration over corruption scandals, sluggish growth, and record unemployment.
The election was the first measure of whether President Cyril Ramaphosa can restore support for a party whose support flows largely from its liberation credentials.
Polls opened at 7am with approximately 26.8 million voters registered to cast their ballots at 22,925 polling stations countrywide with preliminary results set to emerge on Thursday and an official winner to be declared on Saturday.