ANC MAY GAIN OVER TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY

By Peter Biles
BBC Johannesburg
South Africa
April 24, 2009

Mr Zuma said voters had responded to the ANC's policies
The African National Congress (ANC) is heading for a decisive victory in South Africa's general election, taking more than a two-thirds majority of the vote.
With more than 12 million votes counted, the ANC has 66.89%.

The Democratic Alliance is in second place with 16% and the newly formed Congress of the People (Cope) has 7.6%. Results from some big metropolitan areas, including Soweto, are still awaited. The final results will be declared on Saturday.

The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says so far the ANC's percentage of the national vote gives the party a fraction more than a two-thirds majority.

But the ANC is ahead in eight of the country's nine provinces.
The turnout has been extremely high, as much as 80% in some places.
Last night, ANC leader Jacob Zuma told jubilant supporters that the ANC had emerged in a position of strength despite being belittled by its opponents in the election campaign.