JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The latest results showed that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is surging ahead nationally in the local government elections, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said on Thursday.
According to results released by 20:00, the ANC has garnered 54.15 percent of the vote nationwide. The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) is trailing behind at a mere 26.9 percent.
The ANC "is buoyant and energized" at the latest results, Kodwa said.
This result affirms the organization's confidence that South Africans have once again entrusted the ANC with managing the country's municipalities, he said.
South Africans have once again come out countrywide to reaffirm the ANC's progressive, pro-poor, pro-development service delivery agenda, said Kodwa.
The elections, seen by many as being the most contested since 1994, took place on Wednesday. For the first time in history, the elections saw 200 political parties and over 61,000 candidates participating to seek control of more than 200 municipalities.
The ANC has run a positive election campaign grounded in confidence and optimism, and rooted in the organization's outstanding service delivery track record, Kodwa noted.
"As results continue to come in to the National Results Center, the ANC has the utmost confidence that as the evening wears on, we will build on our current base for more than 10 million South Africans who have entrusted the ANC with their vote for us to continue creating a better life for all," Kodwa said.
Contrary to the doomsday predictions of a range of pollsters, commentators and analysts, the voters of South Africa continue to have confidence in the ANC, he said.
Meanwhile, the DA also claimed victory in the elections.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said the party has won the majority vote in Nelson Mandela Bay, a highly conteste.
Growth in support for the DA across South Africa as early results showed, bodes well for the DA's electoral outcomes, the party said.
Voters in Cape Town have re-elected the DA with a resounding majority, early results showed.
In Midvaal, Gauteng Province, the DA has also been re-elected with an increased majority.
"The early results show growth for the DA across the board in South African municipalities, and we are buoyant as we await the newest results that come in," said James Selfe, Chairperson of DA Federal Council.
In Pretoria and Johannesburg, the ANC and DA are running neck to neck.
Election officials say it is still early to say who will be the winner in the two major cities.
