Thousands of expats flocked to voting stations to cast their ballots at the weekend.
According to the Electoral Commission (IEC), special measures were implemented between 17 and 18 May 2024 in 111 South African missions across the world to facilitate voting by around 78,000 citizens.
The mission in London in the United Kingdom is the only voting station that was open for an additional day, on Sunday. The move was to accommodate more than 24 000 voters who were registered and approved to vote at that mission.
Jimmy Pressly (32), a Principal Marketing lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire was one of them. Pressly has been living in the UK for the past five years. He is based in St Albans, a city situated about 50 km outside of London.
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He said due to the high volume of voters at his mission, he spent two hours in the queue and felt honoured to have had the opportunity to cast his vote.
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“People had music there, playing all the South African classics. We had the national anthem playing at one point, and Johnny Clegg so the vibe was great.
He added that the excitement was felt, as strangers chatted away.
“I think people were just enjoying seeing so many South Africans together. When I went in to vote, it was very well-organised. I felt quite proud and privileged that I am able to vote for my country, although I am in a different country. It was amazing,” concluded Pressly.
The IEC confirmed that overall, special voting abroad proceeded smoothly with no major incidents.
