SOUTH AFRICA: ANC increases its lead with election count almost complete, final results expected Friday afternoon

Record ID: 454517

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: ANC increases its lead with election count almost complete, final results expected Friday afternoon
  • Date: 25th April 2009
  • Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (APRIL 24, 2009) (REUTERS) RESULTS CENTRE ANC (AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS) OFFICIAL ON THE PHONE INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS (ID) LEADER PATRICIA DE LILLE LOOKING AT THE SCREEN IEC OFFICIAL UPDATING INFORMATION POLICEMAN LOOKING AT RESULTS VARIOUS OF RESULTS OFFICIALS LOOKING RESULTS CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (APRIL 23, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLITICAL PARTY LOGOS PROJECTED ONTO BIG SCREEN AT PROVINCIAL RESULTS CENTRE ANC MEMBER SHOWING THUMBS UP COPE (CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE) MEMBERS CHATTING DA (DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE) LOGO VARIOUS OF DA MEMBERS AT TABLE INTERIOR OF RESULTS CENTRE VARIOUS OF INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL OFFICIALS WORKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) COPE (CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE) MEMBER, THOZANA BEVU SAYING: "But up to now, we are very excited because with what we have achieved so far nationally and in this province, to be number three, it's really great." MORE OF POLITICAL PARTIES LOGOS ON BIG SCREEN VARIOUS OF JOURNALIST RESTING HIS HEAD IN HIS HAND
  • Embargoed: 10th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7IH9VXN8DOSB6LULA53Z6LOWR
  • Story Text: South Africa's ruling ANC continues to build on its commanding lead in an election certain to install Jacob Zuma as president and put him under immediate pressure to deal with a faltering economy and improve the lives of the poor.
    The African National Congress on Friday (April 24) held nearly 67 percent of the vote according to latest results, suggesting it would keep the two-thirds majority it needs to change the constitution and further strengthen its hold, of some concern to markets.
    On Wednesday night thousands of ruling party supporters danced into the night to celebrate the ANC's success in the face of the toughest opposition challenge since the end of apartheid in 1994.
    Despite the failure of a party of ANC dissidents to make a dramatic impact, the ANC appeared to be just short of the nearly 70 percent of the vote it won in 2004 and to have lost control of the Western Cape province, centre of the tourist industry.
    The Congress of the People (COPE), formed by politicians who broke from the ruling party, had won only 7.66 percent with 73 percent of votes counted.
    The ANC's closest rival was the Democratic Alliance -- led by a white woman -- with 15.78 percent. The DA pulled ahead of the ANC in the Western Cape province, which is currently controlled by the ANC.
    Cape Town residents welcomed the success of the DA in the region, hopeful of change.

    "I think after those elections, they are going to be getting nice things. Maybe the DA, they are going to be creating nice jobs, everything for them," said local Elvis Mava.

    "To me DA winning the Western Cape is a good thing. It is proving that South African people understand exactly what is a democracy," said former resident of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Jean-Paul Mandibou.
    The rand currency weakened slightly as some investors fretted about the size of the ANC victory, but losses were limited by strengthening global equities.
    The ANC has given repeated assurances it has no plan to change the constitution even with a two-thirds majority.
    The 67-year-old Zuma will become president only three weeks after managing to get prosecutors to drop an eight-year-old corruption case on a technicality. His supporters dismiss the accusations against him as politically motivated.
    Election officials estimated the turnout at 76 percent, the same as 2004. Police said the election was largely peaceful.
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