ANC looks set to rule W Cape
2004-04-15 14:54
Pretoria - The African National Congress (ANC) looks set to rule the Western Cape - with its New National Party partners - with about half of the results for the province now collated.
The ANC now has 300 203 votes or 39.76% of 755 102 votes counted. Its partner - the New National Party, whose leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk is the outgoing premier - has 88 510 or 11.72%.
Although the picture may alter with counting results flowing in, the two parties look set to have a ruling mandate of over 50% together.
The Democratic Alliance has progressed from around 12% gained in the 1999 election - then in the form of the Democratic Party - to 32.14% or 242 671 votes. It looks set to obtain official opposition status in the legislature. In 1999 the NNP gained 38% and the ANC 42%.
A star performer in the Western Cape is Patricia de Lille with her year-old Independent Democrats notching up a respectable 8.27% - or 62 464 votes- so far.
It is likely to give her at least two seats in legislature.
The Western Cape is only one of two provinces of nine where an opposition victory was deemed possible.
Eyes will now turn to Kwazulu-Natal and whether the Inkatha Freedom Party and the DA can collectively gain a ruling majority.