ANC strengthened nationwide
2006-03-03 10:12
Cape Town - The African National
Congress (ANC) has polled over 70.3% in Wednesday's election in the latest
results provided by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The official opposition, Democratic Alliance (DA) polled 13.6% - only
slightly more than it garnered in the national election in 2004 - with the
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in third place with 4.2%.
The relatively new Independent Democrats (ID) led by Patricia de Lille
is
in fourth place with 2.52%.
The United Christian Democratic Party (UCDP) gained just over 1% with
the
African Christian Democratic party (ACDP) at 0.88%.
The key Cape Town metro result has still not been finally declared but
it
is expected later Friday morning. Last reports were that the DA was still
leading with around 42% and the ANC at 39% with the ID holding the balance
of
power with about 11%.
Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool told the SABC on Friday that "level
heads were now required" in Cape Town but the result was not a situation
which
he personally or politically wanted the ANC to be in.
The ID has said that
it
would not form alliances - which could mean that DA mayoral candidate Helen
Zille will win the mayoral vote.
Strengthened ANC
Nationally a strengthened ANC - which polled just short of 60% in the
last
municipal poll in 2000 - now has 3 527 seats in the 284 municipalities
across
the country with the DA taking 646 seats. The IFP has 233 seats and the ID
gained 123 seats.
The UCDP and the ACDP each have 56 seats. The Pan Africanist Congress of
Azania got 0.86% of the vote and 53 seats while the Vryheidsfront Plus with
0.68% got 44 seats.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) got 36 seats while a breakaway party
the United Independent Front - led by former UDM parliamentarian Malizole
Diko
- has gained 17 seats or 0.27% of the vote.
-
The National Democratic Convention led by former IFP national chairperson
Ziba
Jiyane has gained just 10 seats with 0.17% of the national vote. It is just
behind the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa - led by former ANC
Beaufort West mayor and former municipal manager Truman Prince - which has
gained 14 seats or 0.3% of the vote.
A variety of other parties or ratepayers groups won one or two seats
each.
These figures are expected to be updated later on Friday.