Community protests were, among others, reported in Cape Town, Durban and Vhuwani in Limpopo where residents burnt tyres and barricaded roads on the day of South Africa's sixth democratic national elections since 1994. The residents vowed they would not vote until their concerns, including lack of service delivery, are addressed by the government.

Accompanied by his wife Dr Tshepo Motsepe, Ramaphosa was met by hundreds of supporters at his voting station at Hitekani Primary School in Chiawelo, Soweto. He said those who opt to protest and not vote were suppressing their own voices.

''By protesting, they are basically saying they do not want to have a voice... because it is only when you vote that your voice be heard and the issues you're concerned about can actually be addressed,'' Ramaphosa told reporters after casting his ballot.

''I have always said to our people who want to protest and not vote that that is not the right way of raising issues. Go and vote and after that, you can stand and say 'I have voted because I want my issues to be addressed’.''

Among Wednesday's protesters was the family of abducted South African photographer Shiraaz Mohamed, which held up placards in Chiawelo earlier in the day while awaiting Ramaphosa's arrival.

A family member said Mohamed's relatives were at the station to ask Ramaphosa to intervene in Syria and him home.

''We want the president's help. We wrote a letter to him and we're not certain that he received it. We are living through a nightmare ... it has been two and a half years and we can't take it anymore,'' the tearful relative said.

Mohamed was abducted by armed men in 2017 while travelling in war-torn Syria.

Last week, aid organisation Gift of the Givers released a video that showed the photojournalist was still alive. His abductors have demanded a US$1.5 million ransom for his release.

African News Agency (ANA)