Ruling party wins S.African election

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-26-2009 09:31

South Africa's ruling African National Congress has won a sweeping victory in Wednesday's elections, putting party leader Jacob Zuma in line to become the country's next president.

African National Congress presidential candidate Jacob Zuma reacts as the result board shows the number of parliaments seats the ANC won at the Independent  Electoral Commission result center in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday April 25, 2009.(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Official results show the ANC won nearly 66 percent of the vote. That's just short of the two-thirds needed to ensure a parliamentary majority.

The opposition Democratic Alliance won 16 and a half percent of the votes. And the Congress of the People, formed by politicians who broke from the ruling party took nearly 8 percent.

Zuma has pledged that as president he will work with unions and business to ensure stability amid the global turmoil.

Jacob Zuma, AFC President, "The new president of the republic will be a president for all... and he will work to unite the country around the program of action, that will see an improvement in the delivery of services."