South African election begins with overseas vote (Lead)

South African election begins with overseas vote (Lead):

Pretoria, April 16 (IANS) Thousands of South Africans living around the world descended Wednesday on their country’s missions abroad to cast their votes in the fourth general elections since the end of the apartheid era.

Some 16,240 registered South Africans living abroad are expected to vote at South African embassies in their respective countries between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, in a process that will be overseen by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) at 124 missions, BuaNews reported.