This, despite predictions by various political analysts that the party might lose a significant number of young voters in the province. Political analysts, Choice Makhetha and Sethulego Matebesi, have told OFM News that although the ruling party has a significant number of supporters, opposition parties are growing significantly with most young people opting for the opposition camp.

The party's provincial deputy chair, William Bulwane, nonetheless today told OFM News that they are expecting to still win over the province although the number of voters' turnout was much less than anticipated.

This, as spokesperson of the Electoral Commission, Mmabatho Rasengane, has confirmed that the ANC is at this stage taking the lead, followed by the DA and the EFF.

She confirmed that the vote counting process in most districts is progressing well, and results from 48% of the 1 529 voting stations have already been captured.

"There are 1 529 voting stations in the province and about 780 results were captured and 601 were audited and completed. Outstanding results from more than 900 voting stations are slowly reported to the center.

The Letsemeng Municipality in the Xhariep District has 22 voting stations and has completed the counting process. Speedy progress is also being made in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District with the Nketoana Municipality on 97.92% and Mantsopa Municipality on 97.30%. There is less progress at Setsoto in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District with 28.17%. Nala Municipality in Matjhabeng is making less progress with 20.51% as well as Ngwathe Municipality in Fezile Dabi with 25%," said Rasengane.

Bulwane alluded that the unrest that broke out in the towns of Viljoenskroon and Marquard, as well as unfavourable weather conditions, are amongst some of the reasons there has been a low voter turnout. He, however, remains resolute that the ANC will win.

OFM News