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| Long queues as South Africa votes | Long queues as South Africa votes |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| South Africans have been queuing to vote in what is likely to be the most competitive general election since the end of apartheid in 1994. | South Africans have been queuing to vote in what is likely to be the most competitive general election since the end of apartheid in 1994. |
| Many voters were wrapped in blankets, hats and scarves on a chilly day and turned out hours before booths opened. | Many voters were wrapped in blankets, hats and scarves on a chilly day and turned out hours before booths opened. |
| Former leader Nelson Mandela, 90, was among those voting. | Former leader Nelson Mandela, 90, was among those voting. |
| The ruling ANC - led by Jacob Zuma - is expected to win, but it could lose its two-thirds majority in parliament which allows it to change the constitution. | The ruling ANC - led by Jacob Zuma - is expected to win, but it could lose its two-thirds majority in parliament which allows it to change the constitution. |
| Among its rivals is a new party - Congress of the People (Cope) - formed last year by a group who split from the ANC after ex-President Thabo Mbeki was replaced as leader. | Among its rivals is a new party - Congress of the People (Cope) - formed last year by a group who split from the ANC after ex-President Thabo Mbeki was replaced as leader. |
| Some 20,000 polling stations are being used for more than 23 million registered voters. Polls close at 2100 local time (1900 GMT). | Some 20,000 polling stations are being used for more than 23 million registered voters. Polls close at 2100 local time (1900 GMT). |
| Opposition plea | Opposition plea |
| BBC correspondents around the country reported lively groups of voters braving the wintry weather to cast their ballots. | BBC correspondents around the country reported lively groups of voters braving the wintry weather to cast their ballots. |
| In pictures: South Africa votes Your pictures: At the polls | In pictures: South Africa votes Your pictures: At the polls |
| Many voters arrived hours before polling stations opened - some wrapped in blankets, clutching mugs of hot drinks. | Many voters arrived hours before polling stations opened - some wrapped in blankets, clutching mugs of hot drinks. |
| By midday, most of the main political figures had voted. | By midday, most of the main political figures had voted. |
| Mr Mandela had already pledged his support to the ANC at a rally last week, but Mr Mbeki was widely rumoured to be considering backing Cope. | Mr Mandela had already pledged his support to the ANC at a rally last week, but Mr Mbeki was widely rumoured to be considering backing Cope. |
| After casting his vote in Johannesburg, Mr Mbeki did not confirm the speculation, saying: "People should vote for who they want, not out of fear, but for the party they believe will deliver the South Africa they want." | After casting his vote in Johannesburg, Mr Mbeki did not confirm the speculation, saying: "People should vote for who they want, not out of fear, but for the party they believe will deliver the South Africa they want." |
| In a polling station queue, the leader of the official opposition Democratic Alliance party, Helen Zille, told the BBC that South Africans needed to "stop Zuma to save the constitution". | In a polling station queue, the leader of the official opposition Democratic Alliance party, Helen Zille, told the BBC that South Africans needed to "stop Zuma to save the constitution". |
| "He's a one-man constitution-wrecking machine and what he says and what he does are two different things," she said. | "He's a one-man constitution-wrecking machine and what he says and what he does are two different things," she said. |
| href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_views_from_the_queue_for_south_african_polls/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_views_from_the_queue_for_south_african_polls/html/1.stm', '1240407617', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Hear what some voters waiting to cast their ballots think href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_views_from_the_queue_for_south_african_polls/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_views_from_the_queue_for_south_african_polls/html/1.stm', '1240407617', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures | |
| The alliance has repeatedly suggested that if the ANC retains its two-thirds majority, it might change the constitution to protect Mr Zuma from prosecution - claims he has denied. | The alliance has repeatedly suggested that if the ANC retains its two-thirds majority, it might change the constitution to protect Mr Zuma from prosecution - claims he has denied. |
| Voting in his home state of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Zuma told cheering supporters: "When I grew up, I did know that this day would come. | Voting in his home state of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Zuma told cheering supporters: "When I grew up, I did know that this day would come. |
| "This makes me feel great and it's a feeling far different from the one that we had under the apartheid government." | "This makes me feel great and it's a feeling far different from the one that we had under the apartheid government." |
| Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who has described Mr Zuma as an unfit president, cast his vote in Cape Town. | Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who has described Mr Zuma as an unfit president, cast his vote in Cape Town. |
| "Because of the role the ANC has played in the struggle, and in the first years of our freedom, most people would have tended to vote ANC," he said. | "Because of the role the ANC has played in the struggle, and in the first years of our freedom, most people would have tended to vote ANC," he said. |
| "Now, it is no longer quite so straightforward. People are asking questions, which is a good thing, I mean, that is what a democracy is." | "Now, it is no longer quite so straightforward. People are asking questions, which is a good thing, I mean, that is what a democracy is." |
| Charges of corruption against Mr Zuma were dropped just two weeks before the poll, after state prosecutors said there had been political interference in the case. | Charges of corruption against Mr Zuma were dropped just two weeks before the poll, after state prosecutors said there had been political interference in the case. |
| 'Voting for change' | 'Voting for change' |
| Many of the new voters are young people who have little memory of the struggle to end white minority rule, which brought the ANC to power. | Many of the new voters are young people who have little memory of the struggle to end white minority rule, which brought the ANC to power. |
| One first-time voter, Bhekisa, was among the first at the polling station in Johannesburg City Hall. | One first-time voter, Bhekisa, was among the first at the polling station in Johannesburg City Hall. |
| POLL IN NUMBERS 23m registered voters19,700 polling stations9,130 candidates - 3,511 female2,000 soldiers deployed4,000 local observers, 153 from abroad Special report: South Africa election Q&A: General elections Zuma 'the victim' to win the day Send us your comments | |
| "It's so cold today, you can see it's freezing. But I am excited because I am here," he said. | "It's so cold today, you can see it's freezing. But I am excited because I am here," he said. |
| While another, Pam Morris, said she was keen to vote for a change. | While another, Pam Morris, said she was keen to vote for a change. |
| "That is what we have to look for every day. Change. A better life," she said. | "That is what we have to look for every day. Change. A better life," she said. |
| Analysts say Cope's emergence energised the early stages of the election campaign, but the party's popularity seems to have diminished in recent weeks. | Analysts say Cope's emergence energised the early stages of the election campaign, but the party's popularity seems to have diminished in recent weeks. |
| Cope fielded a relatively unknown presidential candidate, former Bishop Mvume Dandala, who analysts say has struggled to make an impact. | Cope fielded a relatively unknown presidential candidate, former Bishop Mvume Dandala, who analysts say has struggled to make an impact. |
| Some say the real battle is between Cope and the Democratic Alliance - for second place. | Some say the real battle is between Cope and the Democratic Alliance - for second place. |
| Neither party has ruled out entering into a coalition after the election. | Neither party has ruled out entering into a coalition after the election. |
| An opposition coalition would provide the biggest challenge to the ANC since it was first elected in 1994, ending years of white minority rule. | An opposition coalition would provide the biggest challenge to the ANC since it was first elected in 1994, ending years of white minority rule. |
| If you are in South Africa, send us your voting experiences by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 or use the form below: | If you are in South Africa, send us your voting experiences by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 or use the form below: |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
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