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| South Africa election: ANC wins huge victory | South Africa election: ANC wins huge victory |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The African National Congress (ANC) has won a commanding victory in South Africa's general election, partial results show. | The African National Congress (ANC) has won a commanding victory in South Africa's general election, partial results show. |
| With about 96% of the results in, the ANC has 62% of the vote, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on 22%. | With about 96% of the results in, the ANC has 62% of the vote, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on 22%. |
| The BBC's Andrew Harding says inequality, unemployment and corruption are big problems but the electorate has shown it has not lost faith in the ANC. | The BBC's Andrew Harding says inequality, unemployment and corruption are big problems but the electorate has shown it has not lost faith in the ANC. |
| The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party is in third place with 6%. | The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party is in third place with 6%. |
| The electoral commission said voting passed off peacefully in most areas, with turnout at just over 73%. | The electoral commission said voting passed off peacefully in most areas, with turnout at just over 73%. |
| The elections are the first since the death in December of Nelson Mandela - the country's first black president - and mark 20 years since the end of white-minority rule. | The elections are the first since the death in December of Nelson Mandela - the country's first black president - and mark 20 years since the end of white-minority rule. |
| Dissatisfaction with the government has been growing over high levels of unemployment, a lack of basic services and allegations of widespread corruption. | Dissatisfaction with the government has been growing over high levels of unemployment, a lack of basic services and allegations of widespread corruption. |
| Our correspondent says the ANC is likely to use its impressive mandate to try to drive through its National Development Plan - rejecting nationalisation, and emphasising investment and infrastructure. | Our correspondent says the ANC is likely to use its impressive mandate to try to drive through its National Development Plan - rejecting nationalisation, and emphasising investment and infrastructure. |
| The business-friendly plan has alarmed South Africa's powerful unions - some of which may soon break away to form their own party, he says. | The business-friendly plan has alarmed South Africa's powerful unions - some of which may soon break away to form their own party, he says. |
| He adds that, on 6%, the EFF are no threat to the ANC but their aggressive populism will keep ministers on their toes, and South African politics more abrasive than ever. | He adds that, on 6%, the EFF are no threat to the ANC but their aggressive populism will keep ministers on their toes, and South African politics more abrasive than ever. |
| The DA has increased its share of the vote from 17% in the last election to 22%, according to the latest results. | The DA has increased its share of the vote from 17% in the last election to 22%, according to the latest results. |
| Early on Thursday, DA leader Helen Zille told AFP news agency that she expected her party's final vote to be around the 23% margin. | Early on Thursday, DA leader Helen Zille told AFP news agency that she expected her party's final vote to be around the 23% margin. |
| "We'll see how it goes. Of course, we hope it will be more. We did as much as we could," she is quoted as saying. | "We'll see how it goes. Of course, we hope it will be more. We did as much as we could," she is quoted as saying. |
| The DA has been trying to make inroads into the black electorate - its support is mainly concentrated in the Western Cape which has a large white and mixed-race population. | The DA has been trying to make inroads into the black electorate - its support is mainly concentrated in the Western Cape which has a large white and mixed-race population. |
| Those born after the end of apartheid in 1994 were able to cast their ballots for the first time, although only a third of those entitled to do so had registered to vote. | Those born after the end of apartheid in 1994 were able to cast their ballots for the first time, although only a third of those entitled to do so had registered to vote. |
| An ANC victory would return President Jacob Zuma for a second five-year term. He was dogged by allegations of corruption in the build-up to the election after an independent inquiry found he had "unduly benefited" from an expensive government-funded upgrade to his private residence. | An ANC victory would return President Jacob Zuma for a second five-year term. He was dogged by allegations of corruption in the build-up to the election after an independent inquiry found he had "unduly benefited" from an expensive government-funded upgrade to his private residence. |
| Speaking as he cast his vote on Wednesday, Mr Zuma said he thought "the results will be very good", but added that the campaign had been "very challenging". | Speaking as he cast his vote on Wednesday, Mr Zuma said he thought "the results will be very good", but added that the campaign had been "very challenging". |
| In the last election in 2009, the ANC saw a slight drop in support, polling 66% of the vote. | In the last election in 2009, the ANC saw a slight drop in support, polling 66% of the vote. |