South Africa, Press Review, Topnews

22. April 2009

Mandela votes in Houghton

Former SA president Nelson Mandela, 91, voted this morning at 11:30 am at his voting station in Houghton, Johannesburg. This was Madiba's fourth national and provincial vote since 1994 when he was elected as South Africa's first ever black president. His daughter Zinzi accompanied him. Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile was also present at the voting station.

Madiba cast his vote in a special voting box and was mobbed by dozens of people and a strong media contingent who jostled for positions to catch a glimpse of him. He did not make any statement and was whisked away by security personnel.

The ANC looks assured a fourth straight win since defeating white minority rule in 1994 under Nelson Mandela and will make its leader Jacob Zuma president weeks after he was able to get corruption charges dropped. But the party faces an unprecedented challenge from opposition parties hoping to capitalise on frustration over corruption, poverty and crime, and could lose the two-thirds majority that gives it the right to change the constitution and entrench its power further.

Many analysts believe the ANC, whose anti-apartheid credentials make it the choice for millions of black voters, will win between 60 and 66% of the vote, a result that would cheer investors keen to see the ANC's grip on power loosened. With voter turnout expected to reach 23 million, South Africans started going to the polls this morning at 7am. Polls close at 9pm and first results are expected later tonight.

For the latest election results, which will be available from Wednesday evening, dial News Break at 082 152 and press Option 8 for automated results in English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Sotho. For Breaking News press Option 1 and for Special Election Wraps press Option 7.

Source: www.sabcnews.com

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