South Africans Living Abroad Vote In Record Numbers

South Africans abroad turned out in their numbers in different countries across the world to cast their votes, less than 2 weeks before the general elections.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), over 78 000 South Africans applied to cast their special vote abroad.

South Africans in Algiers, Amman, Cairo, Kuwait City, Jeddah, Ramallah, Riyadh and Tehran already voted yesterday, while citizens in other countries have voted today.

#SAVotingAbroad in Nigeria

The largest South African voter population abroad is in London, with over 24 000 voters registered.

“Due to the large voter population, the commission determined two days of special voting for London,” the IEC said in a statement.

South Africans in London will be able to vote on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, from 07:00 to 21:00.

#SAVotingAbroad

The IEC also extended voting hours at the missions in Washington DC and New York on Saturday, May 18. The voting hours are 07:00 to 21:00.

Other cities with large South African voting populations include:

The Hague (6 659)
Canberra (3 674)
Dubai (3 266)
Dublin (3 040)
Wellington (2 292)
Abu Dhabi (1 825)
Washington DC (1 799)
Berlin (1 476)

There are 111 foreign missions around the world, where South Africans can vote.

The country goes to the polls on May 29 in what is believed to be the country’s most crucial poll since the first democratic elections in 1994.