Voting abroad has commenced for what could be one of South Africa’s most significant elections since the advent of democracy. Over 24,000 South Africans are registered to vote in central London on Saturday and Sunday.
The South African High Commission on Trafalgar Square, built in 1933, serves as the largest international voting station for the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). This weekend, South Africans abroad, often referred to as “Saffas,” will cast their votes at this historic location.
Voters will receive a single ballot paper listing approximately 70 political parties. Identification requirements have been relaxed; voters can now present an ordinary ID in addition to their passports.
In the 2019 elections, nearly 20,000 South Africans voted abroad. This year, the number of registered overseas voters has more than tripled to over 70,000, reflecting a heightened engagement from the diaspora community.
