JOHANNESBURG - South Africans began to cast their ballots on Wednesday morning in the country's 2024 general elections.

More than 27 million voters are expected to vote at over 23,000 voting stations across the country to elect a new National Assembly and provincial legislatures, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa, the country's electoral body.

The 2024 national and provincial elections, which coincide with South Africa's celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy, are the seventh general elections held in the country since apartheid ended in 1994.

The IEC said the election results will be announced on Sunday. The new National Assembly will then choose the president of South Africa for the next five years.