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Zuma vows to unite South Africa Zuma vows to unite South Africa
(10 minutes later)
Jacob Zuma, the man expected to become South Africa's president after his ANC party's electoral victory, has said he will work to unite the country.Jacob Zuma, the man expected to become South Africa's president after his ANC party's electoral victory, has said he will work to unite the country.
"We have gone through a difficult period... it is now time to put it all behind us," he said in Pretoria after official results were announced."We have gone through a difficult period... it is now time to put it all behind us," he said in Pretoria after official results were announced.
The ANC won 65.9% of the vote but failed to obtain its previous two-thirds majority.The ANC won 65.9% of the vote but failed to obtain its previous two-thirds majority.
A two-thirds majority in parliament is needed to change the constitution.A two-thirds majority in parliament is needed to change the constitution.
Rejecting opposition allegations, Mr Zuma added that the ANC posed no threat to the constitution.Rejecting opposition allegations, Mr Zuma added that the ANC posed no threat to the constitution.
"There will be no surprises in the next administration's programme of action," he said."There will be no surprises in the next administration's programme of action," he said.
"The electorate has endorsed our call for an equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth path that will bring decent work and sustainable livelihoods.""The electorate has endorsed our call for an equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth path that will bring decent work and sustainable livelihoods."
Of the opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) took 16.66% and the Congress of the People (Cope) 7.42% of the vote.
The ANC lost Western Cape province - centre of the tourist industry - to the DA but made inroads against the Inkatha Freedom Party in Kwazulu-Natal, home province of Mr Zuma.
National turnout was 77% - 1% higher than in the 2004 election.
Enigmatic leader
The ANC won 69.69% of the vote in the last election in 2004, when it was led by Thabo Mbeki, and 66.35% in 1999.
ANC spokesman Ishmael Mnisi attempted earlier to downplay the drop in support of nearly 4%, saying: "We don't read much into percentages."
During the election campaign, DA leader Helen Zille had urged South Africans to deny the ANC a two-thirds majority, arguing that the party would use it to protect Mr Zuma from new corruption charges.
Previous 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.
The challenges which confront Mr Zuma now include a struggling economy and soaring violent crime.
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.
HAVE YOUR SAY I am hoping that Jacob Zuma will lead by example Ntombi, Cape Town
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, says our correspondent.
But Mr Zuma is also a skilled conciliator, credited with ending the political violence in KwaZulu-Natal and helping to bring peace to Burundi.
Polls praised
Helen Zille, who received a hero's welcome in Cape Town, told the BBC the opposition had managed to reduce the ANC's grip on the country.
Celebrations in South Africa ahead of the ANC election victory
"The results are very good for South Africa," she told Focus on Africa.
"They are very good for democracy. The ANC is below the two-thirds majority they need to adversely change the constitution. The Democratic Alliance has grown by more than 30% nationally and we have doubled our vote in the Western Cape, where we've won the province which is wonderful."
Ms Zille said earlier the party would be looking to form a coalition.
Analysts say this is likely to be with Cope, formed by dissident ANC supporters of former President Mbeki, who resigned last year after losing a power struggle with Mr Zuma.
African Union observer mission head Salim Ahmed Salim said the poll had been free, fair, transparent and credible.
Its vibrancy "had done honour not only to the people of South Africa but to Africa as a whole", he said.