Latest Elections News and Issues:

23/04/2009

• 01:00 Cope councillor shot dead
  A Congress of the People councillor was shot dead at his home in Motherwell outside Nelson Mandela Bay on Wednesday night, a party spokesperson said on Thursday.Nkosifikile Gqomo said the man, 38, his wife and his children were attacked by three men who were armed with pistols. 
  http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2505662,00.html
• 07:25 Two million votes counted
  Two million votes were counted in the national elections by 6.15am on Thursday morning. The results, which put the ANC far in the lead with 1 289 275 votes, were released at the Independent Electoral Commission centre in Pretoria.
  http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3086&art_id=nw20090423064319732C937518
• 07:27 Orania votes for FF+
  Despite a visit from ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema in the run-up to the general elections, the district of Orania voted overwhelmingly for the FF+ in Wednesday's elections. In results released at the Independent Electoral Commission centre in Pretoria on Thursday, the FF+ had a clear lead with 242 votes, out of 279 votes cast.
  http://www.news24.com/News24/Elections/News/0,,2-2478-2479_2505674,00.html
• 07:30 Real race is for second place
  The real race between parties taking part in South Africa's fourth democratic election is for second place, a political analyst said on Wednesday. "The real race here is for second place... and that race is going to be closely contested," said University of Johannesburg's Professor Adam Habib of the contest between the Democratic Alliance and the fledgling Congress of the People.
  http://www.news24.com/News24/Elections/News/0,,2-2478-2479_2505522,00.html
• 12:00 DA still winning in the Western Cape
  While morning reports had the DA leading with 52 percent of the national vote in the Western Cape, its lead has fallen to just below 50 percent after 2.50pm. The ruling party has secured more than 30 percent of the vote, and COPE trailed with nine percent.
  http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3086&art_id=nw20090423150523838C565209
• 13:00 3m votes counted so far
  More than three million votes had been counted in the national elections by 08:30 on Thursday morning. The results, which put the ruling African National Congress in a commanding lead with 2 078 352 votes, were released at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) centre in Pretoria.
  http://www.news24.com/News24/Elections/News/0,,2-2478-2479_2505748,00.html
• 15:00 ANC tally hits 66% - for now
  Officials at the ANC's desk in the Independent Electoral Commission's elections results centre were looking increasingly relaxed as results edged the closer to a two-thirds majority just after lunchtime on Thursday. The party has received 4 730 549 votes, increasing its tally to 66%. However, by 3pm only 7,2 million of the 23 million expected votes had been counted.
  http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3086&art_id=nw20090423152133638C190913
• 14:00 Zuma now has to deliver - analysts
  ANC chief Jacob Zuma on Thursday looked assured of the presidency, but he now has to deliver on heightened expectations from South Africa's poor as the economy slides into recession, analysts said. "There are expectations among ordinary people. Their view is that a Zuma presidency will finally deliver on the promise of a better life for all," said political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi.
  http://www.news24.com/News24/Elections/Opinion_And_Analysis/0,,2-2478-2481_2506161,00.html
• 16:00 ANC receives 5 107 410 votes - and counting 
  Officials at the ANC's desk in the Independent Electoral Commission's elections results centre were looking increasingly relaxed as results edged the closer to a two-thirds majority at mid-afternoon on Thursday. The party has received 5 107 410 votes, further increasing its tally to 66.44% as the percentage votes of most opposition parties declined. However, by 4pm only 7,8 million of the 23 million expected votes had been counted.
  http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3086&art_id=nw20090423162930428C185620