South Africans head to the polls

South Africans are voting in general elections which are expected to propel Jacob Zuma, the leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), to the presidency.Opposition parties are hoping to capitalise on voter frustration over corruption and crime, but Zuma has said he will tackle poverty in the country where almost half of the population lives on less than $2 a day.Unemployment, energy, Aids, mining, land laws and immigration are among the other big issues in the election.Polls opened at 7am (05:00GMT) on Wednesday at almost 20,000 voting stations nationwide, and are due to close at 7pm.Kgalema Motlanthe, the South African president, said after voting in Johannesburg on Wednesday: "It was simple and straightforward."I think it's important for all registered voters to cast their vote, because at the end that is going to matter - everyone who participates in this election strengthens our democracy."