JOHANNESBURG, May 29 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, also the leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), joined millions of South Africans on Wednesday to cast his ballot in the 2024 national and provincial elections.

In what is expected to be the most hotly contested election since the end of apartheid, Ramaphosa voted in his childhood township at Hitekani Primary School in Soweto, a township in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng province.

Speaking to the media after casting his vote, Ramaphosa said "this is a great day for democracy in South Africa. This is the day when South Africa decides on the future of our country."

Ramaphosa said that free and fair elections are crucial for strengthening the country's young democracy. "It is wonderful to meet so many people who are here to vote for the stabilization and the extension of our democracy," he said.

Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said that 93 percent of more than 23,000 voting stations opened on time. Five stations in the Eastern Cape province couldn't open on time due to protests, but they have since been opened. There were also minimal issues with the late delivery of voting materials in Johannesburg, while a total of 20 stations in KwaZulu-Natal province would open beyond 9 p.m. following delays in opening.

With a few incidents of attacks on IEC officials in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces during the special voting, Ramaphosa said the electoral body's work played a critical role and it should be given space to conduct the elections in the most dignified manner without any interference.

"The work of the IEC is sacrosanct; it should never be interfered with because when you interfere with the work of the IEC, you are interfering with our democracy," Ramaphosa added.

Voting began at 7 a.m. and continued until 9 p.m. across the country. Counting will begin after voting concluded. Enditem

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