Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, votes in Soweto on Wednesday. Photo: Jerome DeLay/AP
Millions in the South Africans lined up to vote Wednesday in the toughest election in the post-apartheid era, with the president insisting his embattled African National Congress can still win outright.
The country's seventh democratic election is expected to be the most significant since the end of white rule in 1994, as the ruling ANC risks losing absolute control of power, forcing it to seek coalition partners.
Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed his party can once again win an outright majority, although many predict its share will fall below the half of the vote needed to rule alone.
He said: “In my heart I have no doubt about anything. . that people will again have faith that the African National Congress will continue to lead this country.”
Pictured with his wife Dr Tshepo Motsepe after the vote, Mr Ramaphosa said the ANC could regain an overall majority. Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty Images 
A cardboard cutout of Mr Ramaphosa stands next to ANC party agents in Limpopo province the day before polls open . Photo: PAUL BOTES/AFP via Getty Images
This election is widely seen as the country's most important, likely to end 30 years of ANC hegemony and usher in a new era of coalition politics.
Appalling levels of unemployment and crime, the destruction of infrastructure and public services, and disillusionment among many poor black residents who did not benefit from the end of apartheid have eaten into support for the ANC.
Unemployment overall is 33 percent, but among among young people it is much higher. The murder rate is about 85 a day.
“I want to see change in South Africa,” Bongile Mkunka, 53, an unemployed man who came to vote in Langa, the oldest black village in Cape Town, told Reuters.“We have to find more jobs.” . Now I don't feel happy because it's difficult for me. The ANC has been running the country for a long time, but that hasn't changed.”
John Steenhuisen, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance, has called this year's elections “most important” elections. since the end of apartheid in 1994 Photo: GIANLUIGI GUERZIA/AFP via Getty Images
One unemployed man told The Telegraph as he prepared to vote in the town of Alexandra, near the wealthy Johannesburg suburb of Sandton: “I've lived here for 20 years. There is nothing here for us.”
He said he had moved from northern KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng but was still unable to find work. He stated that he intends to vote for the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA).
“We can’t do anything, we have to live and work here. Alex was better off under apartheid than he is now,” he said.
His friend added: “There is nothing we can do. Even if a crime occurs and we report it to the police at the police station, nothing is done.”
The ANC's reputation has also been seriously damaged by corruption under Jacob Zuma, the former president.
Mr Zuma has now turned his guns on his former comrades, creating his own party called UMkhonto weSizwe, which is expected to win precious votes from the ANC.
Corruption under Jacob Zuma, the former South African president and leader of the ANC, has had a negative impact on the party. He has since created his own political party to contest elections. Photo: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images
Polls taken ahead of the vote showed the ANC still the largest party, with a share of the vote near its minimum. in the mid-40s.
This outcome is expected to see Mr Ramaphosa remain in office along with junior coalition partners, unless he faces internal challenges if the party's performance underperforms than expected.
The DA campaigned to “save South Africa” and received the second-largest share of the vote in previous elections.
John Steenhuisen, leader of the pro-business party, urged voters appear in large numbers. to bring change to the country.
“This is the most important election since 1994,” he said after voting in Durban.
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