South Africans must not take 'selfies' in the ballot booth or of their ballot papers during Wednesday's elections, the IEC said on Sunday.

"It is an offence to take and/or publish photographs which reveal a person's vote on a ballot paper. Upon conviction offenders will be liable to a fine or a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year," said Independent Electoral Commission of SA spokeswoman Kate Bapela.

She said that while it was not viable to take away all voters' cellphones as they entered the booths, the organisation asked people to respect the law.

Bapela said there had been instances of overseas voters taking such photographs as well as apparent social media campaigns promoting the action.

"Voters may take photographs of themselves outside the voting station and of their inked thumbs to show their participation."

Selfies are photographs that people take of themselves on cellphones.