Mandela's ANC faces stiffest challenge

The polls are officially open in South Africa as the country sets to vote in what could be one of its most pivotal elections in years.

The African National Congress (ANC), the party of Nelson Mandela which has been in charge in South Africa since the 1994 election, is facing its stiffest challenge in years.

Though past municipal elections produced a yawn among some South Africans, Wednesday's election has become a crucial test of the ANC's grip on power and a referendum on the country's embattled president, Jacob Zuma.

Almost every single local government seat is up for grabs, including urban powerhouses like Johannesburg and tiny municipalities across the country.

More than 26 million people are registered to vote, and on Wednesday, they'll cast their ballots in. More than 61,000 candidates are competing for local government seats.

And in a testament to the vibrancy of this democracy, every single seat is being contested.