Mbeki: It's a very good result
2004-04-16 13:01
Pretoria - ANC President Thabo Mbeki addressed the media at the IEC headquarters on Friday, complimenting the various political parties on their performance, and the success of the electoral process.
Commentating on the votes in favour of the ANC by midday on Friday, Mbeki said, "It's a very good result."
"I'm very pleased at how the parties have handled themselves," said Mbeki. "I believe we can all say we have had free and fair elections that reflect the will of the people.
"I'd like to say thank you to the people of South Africa, for their overwhelming support and confidence in the ANC."
With the ANC nearing a 70% majority, and already more than 10m votes counted in its favour, Mbeki said it is the ANC's challenge not to disappoint voters expectations.
"It is the ANC's duty to stand by its commitments."
Mbeki added his thanks to the media, saying that it had formed an important part of the democratic process.
Sapa reports that with nearly 95% of votes captured by midday on Friday, the African National Congress has nearly gathered 70% of the national vote.
But all eyes are now on KwaZulu-Natal where the Inkatha Freedom Party with the backing of its alliances hopes to prevent an ANC victory.
With the preliminary count updated at noon the ruling party was heading the national race with 10.2 million of the votes counted, which translates into 69.65% - giving it a more than two-thirds majority.
The Democratic Alliance was second in line with 1.8 million or 12.55% - but with returns from largely black rural areas still to come in this percentage is likely to slip further.
The Inkatha Freedom Party was in third place with 968 636 or 6.62% and the United Democratic Movement fourth with 338 370 or 2.31%.
The Independent Democrats with 259 681 votes or 1.78% have just beaten the New National Party into sixth position. The NNP had 252 006 votes or 1.72%.
The African Christian Democratic Party are seventh in the running with 1.62% followed closely by the Freedom Front Plus with 0.92%. The United Christian Democratic party, with 0.75% has nudged the Pan Africanist Congress down into 10th position with 0.73%.
Watch the provisional results of the national and provincial elections as they come in on News24.com