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ANC takes lead in election count ANC takes lead in election count
(31 minutes later)
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 (DA) has 21% and the newly formed Congress of the People (Cope) is being given just 8%.
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.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 Cape Town upset
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 href="/1/hi/in_pictures/8011640.stm">Your pictures: At the polls class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/8012903.stm">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 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.
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 but the party appears to have suffered a reverse in the area around Cape Town
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. With many votes still to come in, it is already clear that half of the province's voters have opted for the DA, led by Helen Zille.
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. This is a considerable setback for Mr Zuma whose party has controlled all the country's nine provinces until now and could justifiably claim to speak for all parts of South Africa, BBC African editor Martin Plaut reports.
Later in the day reports began to emerge of a surge in demand for ballot papers and long queues at polling stations. It is now clear that the DA will take this province even if it has to do so in coalition with another party, he adds.
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. Before the election, Ms Zille urged South Africans to vote to prevent the ANC retaining its two-thirds majority, saying the party might then change the constitution to prevent new charges being brought against Mr Zuma. Mr Zuma has always denied having any such plans.
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.
Nkosifikile Gqomo said the party believed the attack was linked to politics.
Second place fightSecond 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. In Eastern Cape province, where Cope was expected to do well, the new party was being given just 11% of the vote.
A Cope official in the province, 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.
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.
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.
"We are entering a post-liberation era," independent political analyst David Monyae told Reuters news agency.
"People are talking about new issues and challenges and there's also a new generation that's not attached to the liberation struggle."
Mr Mbeki has denied accusations that his government used the courts to try and prevent his rival rising to the presidency.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.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.