ANC set to enjoy another election win

Despite lingering poverty, high unemployment and an AIDS crisis, gratitude to the party that toppled apartheid a decade ago appeared to guarantee the African National Congress a landslide South African general election victory today.

The ANC was leading with about 69% support, compared to just 14% for its nearest rival, the white-led Democratic Alliance, electoral officials said, with votes declared in more than half of the 16,966 polling stations.

The New National Party, the remnant of the party that oversaw close to half a century of white minority rule, was trailing behind with just under 2% of the national vote.

The Independent Electoral Commission has yet to verify the results declared by polling stations.

Final results are expected by Monday.

The new president, expected to be incumbent Thabo Mbeki, will be sworn in April 27, the day South Africa celebrates a decade of democracy.

Electoral officials said voting went smoothly with only a few minor glitches.

More than 70% of the 20.6 million registered voters cast ballots according to preliminary estimates.

While counting was still underway in some of the country’s most densely populated areas, the preliminary results put the ANC within reach of its goal of a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

In 1999, the party was just shy of the margin, which would give it power amend the constitution.

“It is very encouraging,” ANC spokesman Steyn Speed said. “It demonstrates the confidence among South Africans in the leadership of the ANC ... a trust that goes back decades.”