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Johannesburg - Food vendors competed with political parties for space outside polling stations in Alexandra on Wednesday.
The congested township, which dates back to 1912, saw voters queuing at various stations to cast their votes.
Food vendors set up outside the stations and sold meals of rice, mealie meal and meat, fatcakes, soft drinks, coffee, sandwiches, sweets and fruits and cigarettes.
At a community hall in 15th Avenue, the food vendors and political parties jostled for limited space along the pavement to get the attention of voters.
"I sell food at the taxi rank, and I decided to come to 15th Avenue because it is a holiday, there are not many customers at the rank," said elderly Dorothy Baloyi.
Some voters complained about the presence of political parties at the venue.
"I don't want to see any of them today... their job to campaign is done," said voter Solomon Michaels.
Parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters, the African National Congress, and the Democratic Alliance, set up tables opposite the polling station.
Budding entrepreneur Lebo Koena also seized the opportunity to make some extra money by selling boerewors rolls and cold drinks.
Koena, 24, placed a braai across the road from a voting station at Cooper College.
"I'm just selling boerewors rolls and refreshments for the masses out here waiting in line to vote," said Koena, who studied sports management at Tshwane University.
"It's been going okay, a bit slow. It's not as miraculous as I thought it would be, but it's better than sitting at home doing nothing."
"We've probably sold around 70 rolls, and I'm not sure how many cold drinks we've sold, but it's been okay."
"I haven't voted yet but I'm going to vote later when I'm done selling."
The boerewors rolls were priced at R15 and cold drinks were R10.
Meanwhile, business was brisk for a family living near a voting station in Kempton Park, on the East Rand.
Henk and Sonnet Meyer were selling boerewors rolls, biltong, and cold drinks outside their home.
Their house is opposite Horskool Jeugland, which is being used as a voting station.
As he braaied sausages, Henk said: "Business has been flowing since we set up around 10am today. People get tired and hungry from standing in the queue so it is an ideal situation."
The line of voters stretched from the entrance of the school hall to outside the entrance gate.
In Cape Town, a braai stand with sizzling chicken feet was a hit with voters patiently waiting across the road in an informal settlement in Hout Bay.
Imizamo Yethu resident Beverly Tshatsha, 49, prodded the meat and handed it over to customers in torn newspaper, which happened to show a smiling President Jacob Zuma and other politicians.
"Business has been very, very good today. I've been here since 5am," she shouted over the gospel music playing in the yard of her RDP house next door.
