Pretoria – The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has almost counted 100% of all voting districts in the national ballot around the country.
When the system was not far from the 100% mark at around 10pm on Friday night, the African National Congress (ANC) remained in the lead with 62.17%, or 11.41 million votes nationally, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in second place with 22.22%, or 4.075 million votes nationally.
These results could change overnight.
But it is not over until the fat lady sings. The IEC is expected to officially announce the 2014 national and provincial elections results on Saturday at 6pm after all votes have been audited and declared. This will include the international votes, which were expected to come in on Friday night.
New kid on the block, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), stood in third place overall, after it managed to record 1.16 million votes (6.34%), with KwaZulu-Natal rivals Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and National Freedom Party (NFP) coming in at 2.40% and 1.57% of the votes respectively.
While the Congress of the People (COPE), who entered South African politics in 2009, recorded a notable decline in votes overall -- only managed to get 123 103 (0.67%) -- United Democratic Movement (1%), Vryheidsfront Plus (0.9%), African Christian Democratic Party (0.57%) and new entrant Agang SA all managed to secure seats in Parliament.
Another lesser known party, the African Independent Congress (AIC), surprised many when it managed to get 97 458 votes on the national ballot.
Earlier on Friday evening, struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela made a brief appearance at the national Results Operations Centre in Pretoria but could not give media interviews because she is still in mourning. – SAnews.gov.za
