Developing story: this article will be updated as the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) reports turnout and incidents.

South Africans are voting in the local government elections today, Wednesday 4 November, with polling stations open from 07:00 until 21:00. The IEC has reported that stations opened nationwide without major glitches, and has clarified what political activity is and is not allowed on voting day.

According to government figures published today, 29.2 million people are registered to vote at 23 696 voting stations, supported by about 188 000 electoral officials. A total of 136 790 candidates are contesting 10 526 council seats across eight metropolitan, 44 district and 205 local municipalities. Wednesday has been declared a public holiday.

Where things stand

IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said on Tuesday evening: "The Electoral Commission is fully prepared for Election Day, with operational arrangements in place across all nine provinces to facilitate a smooth and efficient voting process." Special voting on 2 and 3 November saw 1 425 942 votes cast, according to the same government report.

Police and soldiers are on standby, according to the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which has warned that attempts to disrupt voting will not be tolerated.

What campaigning is allowed

The IEC says there is "no wholesale prohibition of political activity on voting day", although campaigning inside the boundaries of a voting station is prohibited. Inside a station, parties may not display or hand out billboards, posters, placards or pamphlets, and no one may try to persuade a voter to vote, or not to vote, for a party.

IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya said: "The law does not enforce campaign silence on election day. However, any person who contravenes the legal framework will be guilty of an offence and, on conviction, liable to a fine or imprisonment for up to five years."

Outside station boundaries, political meetings, marches, demonstrations and other organised events are prohibited. The IEC says the rules are meant to let voters exercise their right freely while allowing "low key campaigning to continue without organized public events".

What you need to vote

  • A valid smart ID card, a green barcoded ID book or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate.
  • You can only vote at the station where you are registered.
  • Voters already inside a station's boundaries at 21:00 will still be assisted.
  • To check your registration, WhatsApp your ID number to 0600 88 0000, SMS it to 32810 (R1 per SMS), call 0800 11 8000 or visit www.elections.org.za.

What we do not yet know

The IEC has not yet released an official turnout figure for voting day or a confirmed timeline for the first results. Unconfirmed reports of a late opening at a school voting station in Midrand and of a dispute over an identity document at a station there have not been confirmed by the IEC at the time of writing. Treat any results claims circulating on social media as unconfirmed until the IEC declares them.