"Follow your heart, whatever you do. You are placing your fate and our fate in the hands of men and women who are going to govern at national and provincial level," she said after casting her vote in Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria.

Casting one's vote is the most critical role citizens have in a democratic dispensation, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said on Wednesday.

"Follow your heart, whatever you do. You are placing your fate and our fate in the hands of men and women who are going to govern at national and provincial level," she said after casting her vote in Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria.

"Voting is... when we decide on the basis of trust who we are going to give our collective power to and entrust with control over our limited resources."

She said voters expected elected officials to respect the rule of law, the Constitution, and all institutions established to support democracy.

South Africans were voting on Wednesday in the country's fifth national and provincial elections since the demise of apartheid.