Port Elizabeth - Voting remained largely uneventful in Nelson Mandela Bay as throngs of residents braved the icy weather to cast their votes across the metro on Wednesday.
There were no notable hassles in the running of voting stations as registered voters cast their votes across the metro's cities of Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch.
Current mayor and ANC candidate Danny Jordaan, and his DA counterpart Athol Trollip, cast their votes at different voting stations in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday morning.
Trollip, who is also the DA Eastern Cape leader, told journalists that he had voted for the official opposition party. He seemingly couldn't contain his excitement, saying he was ready to take over the running of the metro from the ANC.
The DA and ANC are running neck and neck in the region, where the ANC has been losing support.
Election surveys suggested the DA stood a real chance of winning the metro. Both parties were confident of victory, saying they enjoyed the support of the masses.
Eastern Cape Premier and ANC provincial chairman Phumulo Masualle told Independent Media that in the “unlikely” event they didn't get enough votes, the ruling party would be gracious in defeat.
Meanwhile, Trollip, DA leader Mmusi Maimane and former party leader and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille are expected to conduct an oversight visit of the metro's voting stations later on Wednesday.