A group of South African citizens who were granted early voting privileges gathered at their retirement facility to participate in the special voting process, avoiding the anticipated long lines on the official election day.

This special voting opportunity is designed for individuals who are registered voters but face physical limitations that prevent them from traveling to a polling station, such as disabilities, pregnancy, or old age.

In addition to the retirement home visits, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) staff also went to the homes of elderly citizens to provide assistance in exercising their voting rights and guide them through the voting procedure.

The upcoming election in South Africa will serve as a gauge of public sentiment towards the long-standing African National Congress party, which has held power since the end of apartheid three decades ago.

Scheduled for Wednesday, the main election day will see citizens from all nine provinces casting their votes, determining the composition of both national and provincial legislatures.

The election results are anticipated to be announced shortly after the voting process concludes, with nearly half of the country’s population of 62 million registered to participate in this seventh fully democratic national election post-apartheid.