Voting for parliamentary elections begins in South Africa

In South Africa opened 23,292 polling stations for voting in the general elections. They will be held until 21:00 local time (GMT+2).

27.79 million people will vote for the new composition of the lower house of parliament – the National Assembly. The population of South Africa is 62 million. This is reported by Pretoria News, a partner of TV BRICS.

According to the authorities of the republic, 14,889 candidates are competing for 400 seats in the National Assembly and 430 seats in the legislative assemblies of 9 states. According to the law, independent candidates can take part in the elections for the first time.

The new composition of the National Assembly will be approved by the South African president for the next five years. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) party has nominated its leader and incumbent head of state Cyril Ramaphosa as a candidate for the new term.

Official results will be announced by the Independent Electoral Commission on 1 – 2 June. The general election will be the seventh in the country's 30-year democratic history.