Ballot counting is ongoing after South Africans on Wednesday went to the polls in a national election to elect provincial and national parliamentarians.

Voting officially closed by 9 p.m. on Wednesday though those in queues were allowed to cast their votes after the official close time.

Official result of the vote cast by 28 million South Africans is expected to be announced on Saturday by the South African electoral body.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission, 70 political parties contested in the election.

Adjudged the most competitive election since South Africa ended brutal apartheid in 1994, the African National Congress party, South Africa’s ruling party since 1994, is facing its toughest challenge in this year’s election, which will determine whether it will continue to win the majority seats and eventually produce the next president. 

Cyril Ramaphosa, leader of the ANC gunning for a second term of five years, hopes South Africans will give his party a “firm majority.”

“As they vote today, Mr Ramaphosa tweeted on Wednesday, “the people of South Africa will give the African National Congress a firm majority.”

Failure of the ANC to win a majority vote would force it into forming a coalition with other parties.

Major challengers in the election are John Steenhuisen-led Democratic Alliance, former President Jacob Zuma’s  Mkhonto we Sizwe party and Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighter party.