Africa

South Africa's ruling party faces challenge in elections

Associated Press
Published | Updated

A woman, left, walks near an African National Congress, ANC, political poster fixed on a toilet door, that call South Africans to vote during municipal elections in the township of Khayelitsha on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2016. South Africa's ruling party faces a robust challenge in municipal elections on Wednesday from opposition groups seeking to capitalize on scandals linked to President Jacob Zuma. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) (The Associated Press)

Children leave their school, which is being used as polling station, at the end of day in Johannesburg, Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. South Africa's ruling party faces a robust challenge in municipal elections on Wednesday from opposition groups seeking to capitalize on scandals linked to President Jacob Zuma. Early voting began Monday for the elderly, disabled and others unable to vote at their polling stations on election day. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell) (The Associated Press)

A man passes an African National Congress, ANC, political poster, right, in the township of Khayelitsha on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. South Africa's ruling party faces a robust challenge in municipal elections on Wednesday from opposition groups seeking to capitalize on scandals linked to President Jacob Zuma. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) (The Associated Press)

South Africa's elderly, disabled and other groups are voting early ahead of municipal elections on Wednesday in which the ruling party faces a robust challenge from opposition groups seeking to capitalize on scandals linked to President Jacob Zuma.

The special voting Monday and Tuesday caters to people unable to vote at their polling station on election day; in some cases, officials are traveling to homes and other locations to collect ballots.

The opposition Democratic Alliance party hopes to make gains in key metropolitan areas controlled by the ruling African National Congress. The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party is also contesting the elections.

A scandal over state upgrades to Zuma's private home hurt the ruling party, which has been in power since the first all-race vote in 1994.