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Ruling ANC Leads Early South Africa Vote Count


Ashton Eaton of the U.S. gestures as he holds a giant $100,000 cheque for his world record in the men's decathlon during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China.
Ashton Eaton of the U.S. gestures as he holds a giant $100,000 cheque for his world record in the men's decathlon during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China.
South Africa's ruling African National Congress party is leading the vote count in the first nationwide elections to include voters born after apartheid ended in 1994.

Provisional results from the country's election commission Thursday showed the ANC with 63 percent of the vote with more than half of the ballots counted.

The closest challenger, the opposition Democratic Alliance, had 23 percent. No other party received more than 5 percent of the ballots counted so far.

The election commission said 73 percent of eligible voters took part in Wednesday's voting.

Analysts expected the ANC to capture more than 60 percent of the popular vote. That would clear the way for parliament to elect President Jacob Zuma to a second five-year term.

Some voters have said they are disappointed with what they view as the ANC's failure to extend basic services, such as clean water and electricity, to all South Africans. Others say they are disgusted by corruption allegations that have washed over the government.

Full results are expected May 10.

Rule by the white minority in South Africa ended on April 27, 1994, when the ANC won the first multi-racial elections. Then-ANC leader Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as president the following month.
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