South Africa votes in general election

South Africans have starting voting in what is expected to be the closest election since the end of apartheid. The ruling African National Congress is likely to see its huge majority slashed thanks to a revitalised opposition but Jacob Zuma will still become his country's third democratically-elected president. The official opposition Democratic Alliance, resurgent under new leader Helen Zille, and the new Congress of the People (Cope) - formed by dissident ANC leaders - are likely to take votes from the ruling party. The spectre of political violence and intimidation still looms in some parts of South Africa and election officials in the volatile province of KwaZulu Natal said police have increased their presence. Provinical chief electoral officer Mawethu Moseri said: "We've been challenged by a number of political intolerance incidents throughout the campaigning area and today we have noted almost 150 matters of various nature. "Police have been dealing with these very well and we have had an extra deployment of police through the province which has suddenly created a very conducive environment for us to proceed with the election." Local councillor Jabulani Sibiya said: "We are going to have free and fair elections in this area with the assistance of the Public Order Police. "They are doing excellent work, they are not saying you are coming from the ANC or IFP, they are just doing their work, so we think we will have free and fair elections." Mr Zuma will inherit a whole raft of domestic problems. Millions of black South Africans still live in impoverished shantytowns, unemployment stands at around 30 per cent and the country has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world. About 1,000 people die every day from illnesses related to Aids. Just over 23 million people are eligible to vote in national and provincial elections in Africa's biggest economy.

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ITN | April 22, 2009

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