PRETORIA, May 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African National Congress (ANC) strolled towards victory in South Africa’s election on Friday, partial results showed, though the party is on course for its worst performance in a national poll in its 25 years in government.
As of 2211 GMT, ballots in 69.98 per cent of 22,925 voting districts had been counted. The tallies put the ANC on 56.61 per cent in the parliamentary race, with the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on nearly 23 per cent and the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on nearly 10 per cent.
The former liberation party of Nelson Mandela has not won less than a 60 per cent share of the vote since it swept to power in South Africa’s first all-race election in 1994, marking the end of white minority rule.
Based on the latest results from the Electoral Commission, analysts predicted the ANC was set for a vote share of between 55 per cent and 59 per cent.
The elections are the first test of national sentiment since Pres Cyril Ramaphosa replaced scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma as head of state in February 2018.
South Africans voting on Wednesday for a new parliament and nine provincial legislatures had expressed frustration at rampant corruption, high unemployment and racial inequalities that remain deeply entrenched. — NNN-AGENCIES
