Early lead for ANC in S Africa voteSouth Africa's ruling ANC party has taken the early lead in the country's general election that is expected to make its leader, Jacob Zuma, president.
Preliminary results from 2.8 million ballots, or 15 per cent, counted early on Thursday after Wednesday's elections, showed the African National Congress (ANC) with about 63 per cent of the vote.
The main opposition Democratic Alliance trailed with 20.7 per cent while the new Congress of the People (Cope), formed late last year by an ANC splinter group loyal to Thabo Mbeki, the former president, had 7.6 per cent in the early count.
Official final results are expected on Saturday.
High turnout
The voter turnout was estimated at 80 per cent – the highest since South Africa's first multiracial election 15 years ago.
Queues snaked outside polling stations across the country from before dawn until past dusk on Wednesday.
Queues snaked outside polling stations across the country from before dawn until past dusk on Wednesday.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) admitted that there was a shortage of ballots for voters in several areas and many centres had to allow people to vote beyond the 9pm (19:00 GMT) cut-off.
"The response is absolutely overwhelming all over the country," Brigalia Bam, the IEC chairwoman, said.
Voter frustrations
Many analysts believe the ANC, whose anti-apartheid credentials make it the choice for millions of black voters, will win the elections.
But many voters are also frustrated about corruption, poverty and crime and that, they believe, might cause the party's majority to drop from the nearly 70 per cent it achieved in 2004, to below the two-thirds mark that gives it the right to change the constitution at will.
But many voters are also frustrated about corruption, poverty and crime and that, they believe, might cause the party's majority to drop from the nearly 70 per cent it achieved in 2004, to below the two-thirds mark that gives it the right to change the constitution at will.
Margaret Nkoane, 57, said in Soweto, a Johannesburg township that symbolised the anti-apartheid struggle, said she "voted for the ANC out of loyalty because my father was active in the struggle".
"But I'm not satisfied with what they've done. People expected jobs but they are still living in shacks."
Still, the ANC is expected to capture enough votes for Zuma, 67, to become president.
If he does win, the son of a housekeeper who spent a decade jailed alongside Nelson Mandela, the country's democracy icon and first black president, would take charge as Africa's biggest economy teeters on the brink of its first recession in 17 years.
"But I'm not satisfied with what they've done. People expected jobs but they are still living in shacks."
Still, the ANC is expected to capture enough votes for Zuma, 67, to become president.
If he does win, the son of a housekeeper who spent a decade jailed alongside Nelson Mandela, the country's democracy icon and first black president, would take charge as Africa's biggest economy teeters on the brink of its first recession in 17 years.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire