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| ANC gains over two-thirds of vote | ANC gains over two-thirds of vote |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The African National Congress (ANC) is heading for a decisive victory in South Africa's general election, taking more than two-thirds of the vote so far. | The African National Congress (ANC) is heading for a decisive victory in South Africa's general election, taking more than two-thirds of the vote so far. |
| With more than 12 million votes counted, the ANC has 67%. | With more than 12 million votes counted, the ANC has 67%. |
| The major opposition parties are trailing well behind - the Democratic Alliance with 16% and the newly formed Congress of the People (Cope) has 7.6%. | The major opposition parties are trailing well behind - the Democratic Alliance with 16% and the newly formed Congress of the People (Cope) has 7.6%. |
| "We know that counting is still going on, but we can smell a 70%," ANC leader Jacob Zuma told jubilant supporters. | "We know that counting is still going on, but we can smell a 70%," ANC leader Jacob Zuma told jubilant supporters. |
| The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says so far the ANC's percentage of the national vote gives the party a fraction more than a two-thirds majority needed to push through constitutional changes. | The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says so far the ANC's percentage of the national vote gives the party a fraction more than a two-thirds majority needed to push through constitutional changes. |
| href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6376&edition=2&ttl=20090424124501">HAVE YOUR SAY I am hoping that Jacob Zuma will lead by example Ntombi, Cape Town | |
| The ANC is ahead in eight of the country's nine provinces. | The ANC is ahead in eight of the country's nine provinces. |
| Results from some big metropolitan areas, including Soweto, are still awaited. The final results will be declared on Saturday. | Results from some big metropolitan areas, including Soweto, are still awaited. The final results will be declared on Saturday. |
| The turnout has been extremely high, as much as 80% in some places, in the country's fourth poll and most competitive since the end of apartheid 15 years ago. | The turnout has been extremely high, as much as 80% in some places, in the country's fourth poll and most competitive since the end of apartheid 15 years ago. |
| Enigma | Enigma |
| In Johannesburg, crowds of ANC supporters dressed in the party's black, yellow and green attended a celebration rally on Thursday evening. | In Johannesburg, crowds of ANC supporters dressed in the party's black, yellow and green attended a celebration rally on Thursday evening. |
| RESULTS SO FAR ANC: 67.01% Democratic Alliance: 15.63%Cope: 7.6%.Votes counted: 13mTurnout: 77% Source: IEC In pictures: ANC celebrations The shape of a Zuma presidency | RESULTS SO FAR ANC: 67.01% Democratic Alliance: 15.63%Cope: 7.6%.Votes counted: 13mTurnout: 77% Source: IEC In pictures: ANC celebrations The shape of a Zuma presidency |
| "I would like to thank you for tonight," Jacob Zuma told the crowd, after dancing on stage. | "I would like to thank you for tonight," Jacob Zuma told the crowd, after dancing on stage. |
| "We went to the voters of this country, talked to them and put across our polices - and they have understood what we are saying," he said. | "We went to the voters of this country, talked to them and put across our polices - and they have understood what we are saying," he said. |
| Parliament will elect South Africa's next president by a simple majority, putting Mr Zuma in line for the post when the new assembly votes in May. | Parliament will elect South Africa's next president by a simple majority, putting Mr Zuma in line for the post when the new assembly votes in May. |
| Mr Zuma, a populist who spent 10 years in prison during the apartheid era for ANC membership, faces challenges including a struggling economy and soaring violent crime. | Mr Zuma, a populist who spent 10 years in prison during the apartheid era for ANC membership, faces challenges including a struggling economy and soaring violent crime. |
| Charges of corruption against the 67-year-old were dropped just two weeks before the poll after state prosecutors said there had been political interference in the case. | Charges of corruption against the 67-year-old were dropped just two weeks before the poll after state prosecutors said there had been political interference in the case. |
| The BBC's Africa analyst Martin Plaut says the ANC leader is still something of an enigma - part Zulu traditionalist, part international leader who jets around the world. | The BBC's Africa analyst Martin Plaut says the ANC leader is still something of an enigma - part Zulu traditionalist, part international leader who jets around the world. |
| During the fight against apartheid Mr Zuma was head of internal security for the ANC, when some people were killed and some tortured. | During the fight against apartheid Mr Zuma was head of internal security for the ANC, when some people were killed and some tortured. |
| It is not clear how much he knew or sanctioned, he says. | It is not clear how much he knew or sanctioned, he says. |
| But Mr Zuma is also a skilled conciliator, credited with ending the political violence in KwaZulu-Natal and helping to bring peace to Burundi. | But Mr Zuma is also a skilled conciliator, credited with ending the political violence in KwaZulu-Natal and helping to bring peace to Burundi. |
| 'Not a rejection' | 'Not a rejection' |
| The election commission said it was pleased with the peaceful way in which the poll was conducted. | The election commission said it was pleased with the peaceful way in which the poll was conducted. |
| The Cope leader, former Bishop Mvume Dandala, told the BBC that the party did not see the result as a rejection. "We are saying that we have been given a critical mass upon which to build," he said. | The Cope leader, former Bishop Mvume Dandala, told the BBC that the party did not see the result as a rejection. "We are saying that we have been given a critical mass upon which to build," he said. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| It is thought that Cope and the DA could enter into a coalition after the election, presenting a real threat to the ANC's continued dominance of South Africa. | It is thought that Cope and the DA could enter into a coalition after the election, presenting a real threat to the ANC's continued dominance of South Africa. |