The polls are closing in South Africa's general election, where the ruling African National Congress party is poised to win a solid victory, despite facing its greatest challenge since the end of apartheid.
Voters waited in long lines outside polling stations Wednesday, braving a sudden cold snap to cast their ballots. Turnout was reported to be so high that some polling places ran out of ballot papers.
Election officials said anyone standing in line when the polls began closing (at 9 p.m. local time, 1900 UTC) would be allowed to vote.
Some voters said they were encouraged by the emergence of a new opposition party, the Congress of the People, or COPE, which broke off from the ANC last year. Others cheered and sang in support of the ruling party as former President Nelson Mandela and the ANC's controversial but popular leader, Jacob Zuma, cast their votes. If the ANC wins as expected, its lawmakers are likely to choose Zuma to become the next president.