"Reports from election operations around the country showed that most voting stations opened on time and by 11h00 today large numbers of voters had already cast their ballots," spokeswoman Kate Bapela said in a statement.

"In scenes reminiscent of 1994, long queues of voters were seen waiting patiently to vote at voting stations throughout the country."

Bapela said challenges, including the late arrival of staff and delivery of voting materials, had largely been resolved by 9h00, two hours after polls opened. However, 17 voting stations, 14 of them in KwaZulu-Natal had yet to open by 11h30 because of impassable roads. Bapela said the IEC was working closely with government departments to ensure that these would still open their doors during the day.

In the Western Cape and other southern parts of the country, for the most part, the inclement weather did not interfere with voting.

She said among incidents reported at voting stations, was the death of an elderly voter at Elandspoort in Tshwane and the IEC wished to express its condolences to the family.

In the Eastern Cape, a deputy polling station presiding officer passed away overnight. Also in the Eastern Cape, election staff were involved in a car accident, but nobody suffered serious injuries.

Polling stations are due to close at 21h00.

African News Agency (ANA)