Former South African president Thabo Mbeki and his wife, Zanele, caused a stir when they voted in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Wednesday morning.

Dressed in snappy business suits, the two were swamped by journalists as they stepped out of their black BMW.

Mbeki was greeted with hugs and handshakes by a line of election officials, who had been waiting for his arrival at the Holy Family Convent off Oxford Street.

"How are you?," he asked Independent Electoral Commission chairwoman Brigalia Bam, African Union observer Salim Salim and presiding officer Ronald Harvey, as voters watched the fray with amusement.

Asked who he thought was going to win the elections, he gave a deep chuckle and said: "God knows, I don't know."

Once he had emerged from the voting booth, a journalist shouted, "Mr Mbeki, who are you going to vote for?", setting off clucks of disapproval from Bam.

"I am sure that question is unconstitutional, this is a secret ballot," said Mbeki, laughing as he was crowded by cameras.

Outside the voting station, he paused briefly to take questions, using the chance to encourage people to vote.

"I think the future of our country depends in part on people voting according to their conscience," said Mbeki, who was forced to resign as president last year.

He said the campaigning period was very interesting as people had a chance to put forward many views.

"It was good that parties could communicate their views. It exposes people to what parties think is better for the country."

He said people should vote not out of fear, but because of their commitment to the kind of country they want.

Mbeki's resignation last year came at the culmination of his leadership tussle with ruling ANC president Jacob Zuma.

His departure sparked the establishment of the Congress of the People (COPE), co-founded by his sympathisers who include Mosiuoa Lekota and Mbhazima Shilowa.

Asked how retirement was treating him, Mbeki said: "It is excellent."

His aide, Mukoni Ratshitanga, said Mbeki was working on the establishment of an institute and working on the Darfur project.