ANC sweeps to election win with 66% majority

JACOB ZUMA’S supporters danced and sang in the streets yesterday in celebration as partial results from South Africa’s parliamentary elections showed him in line to become the country’s next president.

Zuma’s warmth and rise from poverty to political prominence have drawn adoring crowds throughout the election campaign, although critics question whether he can implement his populist agenda amid the global economic meltdown.

Preliminary results from the 8.42 million ballots counted so far showed Zuma’s ANC party leading the vote with 66.71%. Parliament elects South Africa’s president by a simple majority, putting Zuma in line for the post when the new assembly votes in May.