South African President Cyril Ramaphosa voted in Johannesburg on Wednesday, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) facing a challenge to its control of major cities in local government elections.

Ramaphosa marked his ballot and placed it in a ballot box, while voters queued outside polling stations and election officials processed ballots.

Voters voiced hopes for a more balanced political landscape and improved services.

The ANC faces competition from the Democratic Alliance (DA), uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in major municipalities. 

The party lost its national parliamentary majority in 2024, prompting the formation of a coalition