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| ANC takes lead in election count | ANC takes lead in election count |
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| Early results have given South Africa's ANC a big lead in the general election, paving the way for controversial party leader Jacob Zuma to become president. | Early results have given South Africa's ANC a big lead in the general election, paving the way for controversial party leader Jacob Zuma to become president. |
| The ANC has 64% - just short of the two-thirds majority it would need if it wanted to change the constitution. | The ANC has 64% - just short of the two-thirds majority it would need if it wanted to change the constitution. |
| With a quarter of votes counted, the Democratic Alliance has 21% and the newly formed Cope just 8%. Turnout was high at 77%. | With a quarter of votes counted, the Democratic Alliance has 21% and the newly formed Cope just 8%. Turnout was high at 77%. |
| A Cope leader was shot dead but the vote appeared otherwise peaceful. | A Cope leader was shot dead but the vote appeared otherwise peaceful. |
| The final, official results will not be known for days but the margin of the ANC's victory may become clear later on Thursday. | |
| Charges of corruption against Mr Zuma were dropped just two weeks before the poll after state prosecutors said there had been political interference in the case. | Charges of corruption against Mr Zuma were dropped just two weeks before the poll after state prosecutors said there had been political interference in the case. |
| With parliament electing the president, it looks likely that an ANC-controlled assembly will emerge to pick Mr Zuma as the country's leader next month. | With parliament electing the president, it looks likely that an ANC-controlled assembly will emerge to pick Mr Zuma as the country's leader next month. |
| High turnout | High turnout |
| Monday's poll was the country's fourth, and most competitive, general election since the end of apartheid 15 years ago. | Monday's poll was the country's fourth, and most competitive, general election since the end of apartheid 15 years ago. |
| RESULTS SO FAR ANC: 64%Democratic Alliance: 21%Cope: 8%Votes counted: 25%Turnout: 77% Source: IEC In pictures: South Africa votes Your pictures: At the polls The shape of a Zuma presidency | RESULTS SO FAR ANC: 64%Democratic Alliance: 21%Cope: 8%Votes counted: 25%Turnout: 77% Source: IEC In pictures: South Africa votes Your pictures: At the polls The shape of a Zuma presidency |
| Voting at some polling stations was allowed to go on late into the night because of an earlier shortage of ballot papers and boxes. | Voting at some polling stations was allowed to go on late into the night because of an earlier shortage of ballot papers and boxes. |
| Turnout was comparable to the last general election in 2004, when it was 76% and the ANC won 70% of the vote. | Turnout was comparable to the last general election in 2004, when it was 76% and the ANC won 70% of the vote. |
| Results are still expected from many big townships, where the ANC is expected to do well. | Results are still expected from many big townships, where the ANC is expected to do well. |
| The Congress of the People (Cope) has just 11% of votes so far from the Eastern Cape province, where it had been expected to do well. | The Congress of the People (Cope) has just 11% of votes so far from the Eastern Cape province, where it had been expected to do well. |
| Braving wintry weather on Wednesday, long queues of voters formed outside many of the 20,000 polling stations catering for 23 million registered voters around the country. | Braving wintry weather on Wednesday, long queues of voters formed outside many of the 20,000 polling stations catering for 23 million registered voters around the country. |
| Later in the day reports began to emerge of a surge in demand for ballot papers and long queues at polling stations. | Later in the day reports began to emerge of a surge in demand for ballot papers and long queues at polling stations. |
| Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille has threatened to take the IEC to court over the shortage of ballot papers, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reports. | Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille has threatened to take the IEC to court over the shortage of ballot papers, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reports. |
| She said 24 voting stations had run out of ballot papers in parts of Gauteng and Cape Town, where her party has a strong following and she is mayor. | She said 24 voting stations had run out of ballot papers in parts of Gauteng and Cape Town, where her party has a strong following and she is mayor. |
| In Eastern Cape, Cope official Gerlad Yona was shot and mortally wounded when three armed men attacked his home, a party spokesman said. | In Eastern Cape, Cope official Gerlad Yona was shot and mortally wounded when three armed men attacked his home, a party spokesman said. |
| Nkosifikile Gqomo said the party believed the attack was linked to politics. | Nkosifikile Gqomo said the party believed the attack was linked to politics. |
| Second place fight | Second place fight |
| Many of the new voters were young people who had little memory of the struggle to end white minority rule, which brought the ANC to power. | Many of the new voters were young people who had little memory of the struggle to end white minority rule, which brought the ANC to power. |
| Cope was formed by ANC dissidents who supported former President Thabo Mbeki, who resigned last year after losing a power struggle with Mr Zuma. | Cope was formed by ANC dissidents who supported former President Thabo Mbeki, who resigned last year after losing a power struggle with Mr Zuma. |
| Mr Mbeki has denied accusations that his government used the courts to try and prevent his rival rising to the presidency. | |
| Mr Zuma was also charged with rape but acquitted in 2006. | |
| Analysts say Cope's emergence energised the early stages of the election campaign but the party's popularity seems to have diminished in recent weeks. | Analysts say Cope's emergence energised the early stages of the election campaign but the party's popularity seems to have diminished in recent weeks. |
| Cope fielded a relatively unknown presidential candidate, former Bishop Mvume Dandala who, analysts say, has struggled to make an impact. | Cope fielded a relatively unknown presidential candidate, former Bishop Mvume Dandala who, analysts say, has struggled to make an impact. |
| Some say the real battle is between Cope and the Democratic Alliance for second place. | Some say the real battle is between Cope and the Democratic Alliance for second place. |
| Neither party has ruled out entering into a coalition after the election. | Neither party has ruled out entering into a coalition after the election. |