Around 25 million-plus registered voters had turned out in South Africa
Voters queue to cast their ballots in De Doorns, in the winelands of the Western Cape province, South African, on Wednesday. (Photo: AP)
Pretoria: South Africa's election commission said that polling stations in urban areas had reported a high voter turnout Wednesday, a scenario that could prove a boon for the ruling ANC's political opponents.
Independent Electoral Commission chair Pansy Tlakula said the sheer number of 25 million-plus registered voters who had turned out in South Africa's cities was causing some logistical problems.
"The most pressing challenge we are facing at the moment is the extremely high turnout at voting stations, especially those in urban and metro areas where long queues continue to be experienced," she said.
With the ANC expected to get out its voters no matter what, high turnout is likely to aid the centrist Democratic Alliance, the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters and other opposition parties.
Pollsters at IPSOS predicted that high voter turnout could cost the ANC has much as five percentage points nationally, pushing them close to 60 percent of the vote, while pushing up the tallies of opposition parties.
Anything less than 60 percent would be seen as a major upset for the party that has ruled South Africa since the advent of democracy in 1994.
The high turnout in urban areas could also help opposition parties vying to cut the ANC's lead in populous provinces like Gauteng -- which includes Pretoria and Johannesburg, which has been targeted by the Democratic Alliance.
Long queues have been seen across the country, with some waiting close to two hours to cast their ballots.
( Source : AFP )
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