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ANC seals fifth successive election victory in South Africa ANC seals fifth successive election victory in South Africa
(about 5 hours later)
The African National Congress (ANC) brushed off political scandals and economic discontent to win a fifth consecutive South African election, results showed on Friday, although the party fell short of regaining a two-thirds majority. The African National Congress (ANC) has brushed off political scandals and economic discontent to win a fifth consecutive South African election, results showed on Friday, although the party fell short of regaining a two-thirds majority.
With 99.65% of districts counted, the ANC had a 62.2% share of the vote, down from the 65.9% it won in the 2009 election, according to the national election commission. The result guarantees a second five-year term for the controversial President Jacob Zuma. With all votes counted, the ANC had a 62.2% share of the vote, down from the 65.9% it won in the 2009 election, according to the national election commission. The result guarantees a second five-year term for the controversial president, Jacob Zuma.
The leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, won 22.2%, up from 16.6% at the last elections. Often criticised as white dominated and redolent of the apartheid era, the party said it gained 1.1 million new voters, including 700,000 votes from black South Africans. The leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, was on 22.2%, up from 16.6% at the last elections. Often criticised as white dominated and redolent of the apartheid era, the party said it gained 1.1 million new voters, including 700,000 votes from black South Africans.
Two new parties that captured global media attention met very different fates at the ballot box. The Economic Freedom Fighters, led by firebrand Julius Malema, who cites Hugo Chávez and Robert Mugabe as inspiration, won more than 1 million votes to come in third on 6.3%. Two new parties that have captured global media attention met very different fates at the ballot box.
But Mamphela Ramphele, a former political and romantic soulmate of black consciousness founder Steve Biko, failed spectacularly. Her party Agang SA, launched with much fanfare last year promising to "rekindle the South Africa of our dreams", secured just a fraction of a percentage point. The Economic Freedom Fighters, led by firebrand Julius Malema, who cites Hugo Chávez and Robert Mugabe as inspirations, won more than 1 million votes to come in third on 6.3%.
Agang SA never recovered after Ramphele surprised her own party by agreeing to be the Democratic Alliance presidential candidate. Her kiss for the cameras with Alliance leader Helen Zille proved to be a kiss of death – the pact collapsed within a week. "Mamphela has destroyed her political brand and value," Zille said on Friday. "She had a big brand value before voters rejected her." But Mamphela Ramphele, a former political and romantic soulmate of black consciousness founder Steve Biko, failed spectacularly. Her party, Agang SA, launched with much fanfare last year promising to "rekindle the South Africa of our dreams", secured just a fraction of a percentage point. "Mamphela has destroyed her political brand and value," Zille said on Friday. "She had a big brand value before voters rejected her."
Voter turnout was put at 73% of the 25 million South Africans - roughly half the population - who registered for the national and provincial elections held on Wednesday. Under proportional representation, the 400 seats in the national assembly will be allocated to parties based on how many votes they received nationwide. Agang SA never recovered after Ramphele surprised her own party by agreeing to be the Democratic Alliance presidential candidate. Her kiss for the cameras with Alliance leader Helen Zille proved to be a kiss of death – the pact collapsed within a week. Turnout was put at 73% of the 25 million South Africans - roughly half the population - who registered for the national and provincial elections held on Wednesday.
The ANC said it would hold a victory celebration on Saturday "to thank all South Africans for voting the ANC overwhelmingly into the fifth parliament". The result represents will provide relief for the 102-year-old party after predictions only a few months ago that it could sink below 60% of the vote for the first time.
The Democratic Alliance achieved its best ever result, topping 4 million votes, although its growth failed to meet some expectations. Zille said: "We are on track to achieve our historic mission of realigning politics and unseating the ANC from national government in the next decade. I'm hoping that it'll be a bit earlier than that."The Democratic Alliance achieved its best ever result, topping 4 million votes, although its growth failed to meet some expectations. Zille said: "We are on track to achieve our historic mission of realigning politics and unseating the ANC from national government in the next decade. I'm hoping that it'll be a bit earlier than that."
Some analysts have called on Zille, who is white, to make way for a black opposition leader. Asked if she would now step down, the former journalist replied: "I genuinely do not know." Some analysts have called on Zille, who is white, to make way for a black opposition leader.[http://www.iol.co.za/news/for-the-da-s-sake-zille-must-step-down-1.1644800] Asked if she would now step down, the former journalist replied: "I genuinely do not know."
The relatively unknown African Independent Congress (AIC) surprised many pundits by securing nearly 100,000 votes, something which one official attributed to its similar name, similar logo and proximity to the ANC on the ballot paper.The relatively unknown African Independent Congress (AIC) surprised many pundits by securing nearly 100,000 votes, something which one official attributed to its similar name, similar logo and proximity to the ANC on the ballot paper.
Among the biggest losers was the Congress of the People, a party that broke from the ANC to finish third in 2009 with 7.42% but, after bitter infighting, plunged to 0.67% this time. Its leader, Mosiuoa Lekota, said on television recently: "If anybody can buy me a hat I'll eat it if we get less than we got in the last elections." Among the biggest losers was the Congress of the People, a party that broke from the ANC
Presented with a hat by a TV reporter on Friday, Lekota took it and prompted laughter by remarking: "Well, I didn't say I would finish this hat ... I'm going to bite this hat. I'm going to try with my dentures so history can say I never lied to the people of South Africa."