Two days of special voting for disabled and elderly people, pregnant women and electoral officers got underway across the country on Monday, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said.

Some 84 000 people have applied to cast special votes, but the figure could still grow as hospital patients and retirement home residents had until 5pm on Monday to register, IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said.

Special voting is also open to citizens who will be temporarily out of the country on Wednesday, and to soldiers who will be on duty on election day.

Ballot stations are open from 9am to 5pm on Monday and Tuesday, Bapela said.

Thousands of expatriates voted at South African missions abroad last Wednesday, after the Constitutional Court extended the right to vote to citizens living overseas provided they were already on the voters' role.