Few vote so far in South Africa's local elections

By Nomsa Maseko

About 3.5 million voters had cast their ballots by noon local time (10:00 GMT) in South Africa's local government elections, the Independent Electoral Commission has said.

Just over 26 million people had registered to vote in an election that will decide who controls cities and towns across South Africa - including Johannesburg, Pretoria and Nelson Mandela Bay.

Some glitches have already been reported, with 19 polling stations in Eastern Cape province and 20 others in KwaZulu Natal failing to open on time because of community protests.

An electoral commission presiding officer has also been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal for allegedly stuffing marked ballot papers at a polling station.

Polls are due to close at 21:00 local time.

This article originally appeared in BBC News.

Images: AFP