Long queues were reported yesterday, May 7, 2014, as voters chose new law makers.
South Africans yesterday, May 7, 2014, voted in general elections as the country marks 20 years since the end of white-minority rule. The ruling African National Congress, ANC is tipped to secure its fifth straight electoral victory, the BBC reported.
President Jacob Zuma cast his ballot at his Nkandla homestead in rural KwaZulu-Natal Province. Former journalist and anti-Apartheid activist, Helen Zille, who heads the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, DA, voted in Cape Town. The Electoral Commission has seven days to declare the results. President Jacob Zuma is widely expected to win a second five-year term. The ANC is projected to take over 60 per cent of seats in Parliament, which is also responsible for electing the Head of State.
Voting began smoothly across the country with long queues forming early outside polling stations and an air of excitement, especially amongst first-time voters. Electoral officials said most polling stations opened on time at 7 am local time and were expected to close at 9 pm. Though a lot of emphasis was on the sentiments of the ‘born frees’ or young South Africans born after the end of Apartheid in 1994, only a third of youth aged 18-20, registered to vote, Al Jazeera TV said.
A record 25.3 million voters – about half of the population - registered, with 29 political parties standing in the national parliamentary vote, while 45 parties ran in provincial assembly and local government elections. Some 26,000 citizens residing abroad voted earlier on April 30, 2014. Opinion polls suggested that the ANC will take 61.1 of the votes as against 18.7 per cent for the Democratic Alliance, DA of Helen Zille.
Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF will get 7.6 per cent while 3.9 per cent will go to the Inkatha Freedom Party of Dr Mangasuthu Buthelezi. Mosiuoa Lekota’s Congress of the People, COPE is expected to take 3.5 per cent, while the other 24 parties will get 5.2 per cent, according to the opinion polls.
