Elections 2016: What you need to know
Wednesday is your chance to make your mark in the local government elections. Here is a pocket guide to make navigating the day a little easier.
Voting stations will be open between 07:00 and 19:00 on Wednesday 3 August.
Those still in the queue at 19:00 will not be turned away and will be allowed to vote, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed.
Here are your pre-elections questions answered below:
What is the difference between national elections and municipal elections?
In national and provincial elections, you vote for a political party to get seats in the national or provincial legislatures. In municipal elections, you vote for a political party and a ward councillor for seats at the municipal level.
Where is my voting station?
You must cast your vote only at the voting station where you registered to vote. You can check your registration details here.
What documents do I need to have on the day?
Your ID document - it is recommended that you carry original documents, not copies. Other forms of identification will not be accepted.
What is my ward number and who is my councillor?
You can find details of your ward councillor here or SMS your ID number to 32245 (charged at R1) and you will receive a text message of who your current ward councillor is.
Who are the contesting candidates?
All registered parties that want to contest the election have submitted lists of their candidates. Anyone could object to a candidate by submitting a written objection to the IEC. The final candidate lists are published once appeals and objections are considered. Click here to see candidate lists.
Which parties are running in these elections?
There are 310 parties registered nationally. Your vote is your secret. You can see the registration status and contact details of political parties here.
How many ballot papers will I receive?
If you live in a metropolitan area, you'll get two ballots: one for a ward councillor and one for a party. If you live in a local council with wards, you'll get three ballots: one for a ward councillor for the local council; one for a party for the local council; and one for a party for the District Council.