Long queues of voters were building up in Soweto even before the polls opened. National radio reported similar queues in other parts of the country. In Soweto people said they were still excited to have the right to vote. Many say life has improved in the past decade.

The vast majority of South Africans still vote along racial lines and so the governing ANC is expected to sweep to victory. President Thabo Mbeki is confident of winning a second five year term. He cast his ballot in the capital Pretoria and urged all registered voters to go to the polls. He also said that he hoped the election would be peaceful.

One potential flashpoint is the province of KwaZulu-Natal which has a history of political violence and where thousands of extra policemen have been deployed, but by and large, South Africans appear to be confident that the election will be peaceful and well-organised.