SOUTH AFRICA: Vote counting underway as polls close, Jacob Zuma remains favourite to be named president

Record ID: 452543

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Vote counting underway as polls close, Jacob Zuma remains favourite to be named president
  • Date: 23rd April 2009
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (APRIL 22, 2009) (REUTERS) PRESIDING OFFICER PUTTING THE BALLOT BOXES ONTO THE TABLE PARTY AGENTS LOOKING ON PRESIDING OFFICER CUTTING AND OPENING THE SEALED BALLOT BOXES WIDE OF PRESIDING OFFICER POURING BALLOT BOXES ONTO THE TABLE IEC OFFICIALS SORTING AND PREPARING TO COUNT VOTE MORE OF SORTING OF BALLOT BOXES AND COUNTING DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (APRIL 22, 2009) (REUTERS) ELECTION OFFICIALS SIT FACING TABLE WHERE BALLOT PAPERS ARE BEING COUNTED BALLOT BOX EMPTIED ON TABLE PAPERS BEING SORTED BALLOT PAPERS BEING PUT IN PILES/ MANY SHOWING VOTES IN FAVOUR OF ANC (AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS) PARTY
  • Embargoed: 8th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5IJOWDJRGHU09KZQ1GFHBL8XC
  • Story Text: The counting of votes has began across South Africa.
    The election on Wednesday (April 22) poses the toughest challenge to the African National Congress (ANC) since the end of apartheid and could weaken its overwhelming dominance in parliament.
    In the first result of the fourth election since white-minority rule ended in 1994, the official opposition Democratic Alliance, whose leader Helen Zille is white, took 52 votes against the ANC's 50. There were 120 votes counted.
    But the ANC looks assured of a win overall making its leader Jacob Zuma president weeks after he was able to get corruption charges dropped.
    Turnout was expected to top 80 percent, with the highest number of voters since 1994.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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