Governing party wins big in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - The governing African National Congress on Friday celebrated its most decisive election victory in a decade of multiracial democracy, while the party that gave South Africa apartheid headed toward political obscurity.

With results reported from more than 95 percent of polling districts, the ANC had just less than 70 percent of the parliamentary vote, assuring President Thabo Mbeki a second term.

The New National Party, which presided over half a century of white minority rule, was dealt a heavy blow in South Africa's third all-race election. Party support had tumbled from 20 percent in 1994 to less than 7 percent in 1999. Now, with less than 2 percent, it appeared destined to be little more than a regional party.

The ANC also was leading in votes for nine provincial assemblies, though in KwaZulu-Natal it was neck-and-neck with the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party.

"It is quite clear that the ANC has got the overwhelming support and confidence of the people of South Africa," Mbeki said. "It also, I think, poses a challenge to the ANC not to disappoint the expectations of the millions of people who voted so overwhelmingly for the ANC."

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