Pretoria - As South Africans from all walks of life braved the chilly May morning and headed off to their respective polling stations, the Independent Electoral Commission's national Results Operation Centre (ROC) in Pretoria got off to a slower start.
With polls opening at 7am, IEC officials operating the internal call centre were busy handling logistical challenges from across the country.
A breakdown by the IEC on the start of the elections centres across the country is expected this afternoon. By 9 am political party representatives started to trickle in to the centre to their designated party tables.
The big electronic board at the centre is still displaying only the contesting party names. First results are only expected to trickle in after nine in the evening.
The only buzz at the ROC seems to come from the various media houses and their crews with broadcasting kicking off from the early hours of the morning.
There is high security throughout the centre with SAPS officials on standby. Outside, medical emergency services are also on standby for any eventuality.
Over 23 million people are registered to vote for their municipal councillors at the country's fourth democratic municipal elections today.
Basic service delivery such as housing, electricity and jobs will be on their minds when they take to the more than 20 000 polling stations countrywide. They will be joined by high profile politicians who will also be making their mark.
President Jacob Zuma will cast his vote at Ntolwane Primary School in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal at 11am. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe was among the early birds to cast his vote in Colbyn, Pretoria, this morning and DA leader Helen Zille made her mark in Cape Town at 8am. IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi voted in Ulundi, in KwaZulu-Natal.
