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| A.N.C. Leads South Africa Vote, but Others Gain | A.N.C. Leads South Africa Vote, but Others Gain |
| (4 months later) | |
| JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s long-ruling African National Congress was headed to another big victory in national elections on Thursday, though it appeared to fall short of President Jacob G. Zuma’s goal of a two-thirds majority, incomplete results showed. | |
| The A.N.C. led with 63 percent of the vote after nearly 83 percent of the ballots had been tallied, in keeping with projections that the party, mired in corruption scandals and headed by the unpopular Mr. Zuma, would shed a few percentage points off its share of the total this election. In the last general election, in 2009, it won 65.9 percent of the vote. | The A.N.C. led with 63 percent of the vote after nearly 83 percent of the ballots had been tallied, in keeping with projections that the party, mired in corruption scandals and headed by the unpopular Mr. Zuma, would shed a few percentage points off its share of the total this election. In the last general election, in 2009, it won 65.9 percent of the vote. |
| If the A.N.C.’s lead holds until the final returns are tabulated on Friday, Mr. Zuma, who has battled charges of corruption and rape in recent years, should easily earn a second term. | If the A.N.C.’s lead holds until the final returns are tabulated on Friday, Mr. Zuma, who has battled charges of corruption and rape in recent years, should easily earn a second term. |
| Party officials, appearing on television throughout the day, seemed relieved. An overwhelming victory was never in doubt in what has effectively been a one-party state since the A.N.C., under Nelson Mandela, won South Africa’s first all-race election in 1994. | Party officials, appearing on television throughout the day, seemed relieved. An overwhelming victory was never in doubt in what has effectively been a one-party state since the A.N.C., under Nelson Mandela, won South Africa’s first all-race election in 1994. |
| But a less resounding victory, one falling below the psychologically important level of 60 percent, could have imperiled Mr. Zuma and caused much soul-searching within the party. | But a less resounding victory, one falling below the psychologically important level of 60 percent, could have imperiled Mr. Zuma and caused much soul-searching within the party. |
| “We are quite humbled by the confidence and trust our people have shown,” said Nomvula Mokonyane, an A.N.C. leader who is the premier of Gauteng, the province that includes Johannesburg and is the nation’s richest, according to the South African Press Association. | “We are quite humbled by the confidence and trust our people have shown,” said Nomvula Mokonyane, an A.N.C. leader who is the premier of Gauteng, the province that includes Johannesburg and is the nation’s richest, according to the South African Press Association. |
| The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, was in second place with 22 percent, significantly more than the 17 percent it won in 2009. Even as the A.N.C.’s share of the vote has been declining since peaking at 70 percent in 2004, the Democratic Alliance has steadily made gains by reaching beyond its core supporters of whites and South Africans of mixed race, who account for less than 20 percent of South Africa’s population. | The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, was in second place with 22 percent, significantly more than the 17 percent it won in 2009. Even as the A.N.C.’s share of the vote has been declining since peaking at 70 percent in 2004, the Democratic Alliance has steadily made gains by reaching beyond its core supporters of whites and South Africans of mixed race, who account for less than 20 percent of South Africa’s population. |
| By fielding black candidates, campaigning in black townships for the first time and emphasizing a policy of job creation, the Democratic Alliance appears to have drawn middle-class black voters away from the A.N.C. | By fielding black candidates, campaigning in black townships for the first time and emphasizing a policy of job creation, the Democratic Alliance appears to have drawn middle-class black voters away from the A.N.C. |
| Its power in the Western Cape, the only one of South Africa’s nine provinces not under A.N.C. control, grew as it won 59 percent of the vote, with 94 percent of the ballots counted. The party wrested the province away from the A.N.C. in 2009; its leader, Helen Zille, who is white, is also the province’s premier. | Its power in the Western Cape, the only one of South Africa’s nine provinces not under A.N.C. control, grew as it won 59 percent of the vote, with 94 percent of the ballots counted. The party wrested the province away from the A.N.C. in 2009; its leader, Helen Zille, who is white, is also the province’s premier. |
| The Democratic Alliance has also made gains elsewhere, including in Gauteng, according to the preliminary results. | The Democratic Alliance has also made gains elsewhere, including in Gauteng, according to the preliminary results. |
| “We’re feeling good about the elections because what they’re saying is that the D.A. is the only party that’s consistently grown since 1994,” Mmusi Maimane, who is the party’s candidate for premier in Gauteng and is black, told the South African Broadcasting Corporation. “It also shows the fact that the people are saying, ‘We like what we’re seeing.’ ” | “We’re feeling good about the elections because what they’re saying is that the D.A. is the only party that’s consistently grown since 1994,” Mmusi Maimane, who is the party’s candidate for premier in Gauteng and is black, told the South African Broadcasting Corporation. “It also shows the fact that the people are saying, ‘We like what we’re seeing.’ ” |
| The election on Wednesday presented two basic narratives. The A.N.C. insists that during its tenure basic services like running water and electric power have been provided to millions who were denied them during the long years of apartheid. | The election on Wednesday presented two basic narratives. The A.N.C. insists that during its tenure basic services like running water and electric power have been provided to millions who were denied them during the long years of apartheid. |
| Opponents of the A.N.C. say it has fallen victim to corruption, scandal and ineptitude, unable to deliver services to meet the needs of the ordinary people it claims to represent. | Opponents of the A.N.C. say it has fallen victim to corruption, scandal and ineptitude, unable to deliver services to meet the needs of the ordinary people it claims to represent. |
| That message resonated especially among the young, who tend to be less loyal to the A.N.C. than older voters who lived under apartheid. A former head of the A.N.C.’s youth wing, Julius Malema, attracted many of those voters to his party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, by proposing a radical solution of nationalizing mines and other economic assets in the country without compensation to the owners. | That message resonated especially among the young, who tend to be less loyal to the A.N.C. than older voters who lived under apartheid. A former head of the A.N.C.’s youth wing, Julius Malema, attracted many of those voters to his party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, by proposing a radical solution of nationalizing mines and other economic assets in the country without compensation to the owners. |
| Describing himself as a fan of nationalist leaders like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, Mr. Malema campaigned with his followers in military-style red berets and uniforms. | Describing himself as a fan of nationalist leaders like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, Mr. Malema campaigned with his followers in military-style red berets and uniforms. |
| Though Mr. Malema formed his party only last July, it came in third, ahead of many older parties. | Though Mr. Malema formed his party only last July, it came in third, ahead of many older parties. |