South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday evening seemed set to retain its two-thirds majority as, with roughly half of votes counted, its score crept up to 66.85 percent.

Delegates of political parties observe the eletion tally at the result center in Pretoria, South Africa, April 23, 2009. South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday evening seemed set to retain its two-thirds majority as, with roughly half of votes counted, its score crept up to 66.85 percent. The final result will come out Friday. [Xu Suhui/Xinhua]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) was holding steady with about 16 percent after 10. 3 million votes had been counted, while the Congress of the People were well behind in third place with 7.73 percent.

The ANC was firmly in the lead in Gauteng with 63 percent of votes, compared to the DA's 23.86 percent.

The only province likely to fall to the opposition was the Western Cape where the DA was leading with 48.7 percent against the ANC's 32.1 percent but still chasing an absolute majority that would allow it to run the province without forming a coalition.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2009)