The leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape Legislatrure Bobby Stevenson, was among the first people to cast their vote in the special votes on Monday.
The IEC set aside Monday and Tuesday for the 1.6 million South Africans who registered for the special vote, with the rest of the country going to the polls on Wednesday.
The veteran politician made his mark at Lawson Brown High School in Gqeberha for the last time as a public representative as he is set to retire at the end of this administration.
"I am very excited to cast my vote in this election because, for the first time, the ANC will not get a majority vote," he said.
Asked whether he had achieved what he was working towards when he joined the party more than 40 years ago he said; "We were campaigning for a non-racial South Africa at the time and that has come to pass however, there is a long way to go before we establish real freedom for people in the country."
Stevenson has been a public representative since 1988 until 1999 when he moved to the provincial legislature in Bhisho.
"I just felt the time was right for me to step down. We've got a great team of up and coming younger people and they need to be given the space to lead. But, I'm certainly not leaving active politics. I'm still going to be involved in the Democratic Alliance, just not a member of the Legislature," he added.
Meanwhile, Algoa FM News also caught up with some other voters including Gqeberha local Allan Hings who said was hoping to see improved service delivery to all communities in the city.
"We have a beautiful city but it is going backward due to a lack of service delivery."
Student Ayonelisa Mashiya said in the 30 years of democracy, the public has not seen any change.
"I am a student who is funded by NSFAS but, I have not received any of my allowances, and that is the change that I want to see. I want to see better processes being followed in the allocation of NSFAS allowances."
