S. Africans vote in parliamentary elections

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-22-2009 09:34

South Africa is set to hold general elections on Wednesday, its fourth since apartheid was abandoned in 1994. More than 23-million voters are expected to cast ballots to elect the new national assembly, which will then elect the next South African president.

Providing convenience for citizens with special needs, polling stations across South Africa opened a day earlier than the official voting day.

African National Congress (ANC)  President Jacob Zuma reacts during a  news conference on the eve of a  parliamentary vote, in Johannesburg,  South Africa, Tuesday, April 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

In his final pre-election briefing, President of the African National Congress, or ANC, Jacob Zuma predicted a huge and decisive mandate for his party.

President of ANC, Jacob Zuma, said, "We reiterate that we will use our majority responsibly, and we will not ride rough-shod over the rights of the people or bulldoze other parties into submission."

Latest polls show, the ANC, South Africa's ruling party, will likely garner 60 to 65 percent of votes to keep majority seats in the national assembly.

If that happens, it is widely believed Zuma will become the country's next president.

However, some analysts think divisions within the ANC, triggered by the resignation of former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, may cause the party to lose votes.

The ANC is facing the most daunting challenges since it came to power 15-years ago.

The party is likely to lose the advantage of maintaining a more than two-thirds majority.

Editor:Zhang Yun