South Africans vote in local elections
01/03/2006 - 08:02:47South Africans went to the polls today for local elections dominated by widespread dissatisfaction with lack of services and corruption.
The ruling African National Congress is expected to win a clear majority in the elections, the first since 2000.
However, analysts have predicted there will be a low turnout as a sign of protest. Analysts say many municipalities have failed to deliver on promises of better housing, water supplies and roads.
In Cape Town – one of the few areas where the main opposition Democratic Alliance has a good chance of defeating the ANC – there is additional anger over 10 days of power cuts that have caused havoc and misery.
President Thabo Mbeki was one of the first to cast his vote in Pretoria.
“I hope that all our people, all 21 million (registered voters), will come out to vote because we need a very strong and legitimate local government.”
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