Ruling party gets sizable early lead in S. Africa polls

By Hassan Isilow

PRETORIA, South Africa (AA) - South Africa’s ruling African National Congress is expected to retain its majority in the National Assembly after taking a huge lead in early results tallied Thursday afternoon.

By 11:15 am local time (1000GMT) the ANC had garnered 55.41% out the 32.52 %of total votes counted.

Main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) had 25.36% and the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party had 8.72%.

Both the DA and the EFF seem destined to retain their positions as the second and third largest opposition parties in the National Assembly.

The DA confirmed Thursday that they intend to file complaints against the election commission claiming there were loopholes that allowed some people to vote more than once.

Leaders of the DA claimed many voters cast votes multiple times, saying the indelible ink that’s put on a voters thumb could easily be washed off.

But the Independent Electoral Commission said the polls were secure with other safety measures that included scanning of the voter’s national identity card.