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Record Turnout Predicted as South Africa Votes

Zuma heads for victory, but ANC may lose support

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 22, 2009 6:22 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The polls have opened in South Africa's general election, with a record 23 million citizens expected to vote today. Jacob Zuma is all but guaranteed to become the country's next president, though strengthened opposition parties and voter frustration at corruption and crime have created the toughest challenge for his African National Congress since 1994, reports the Mail & Guardian.

Rain and cold weather threatened to reduce the predicted turnout, and outgoing president Kgalema Motlanthe told reporters that "our prayers are that the weather clears up." Earlier, police arrested an electoral official who was found with a box filled with already completed ballots, delaying the opening of one of the polling stations. Results from the election are expect to trickle in late tonight.

A woman casts her ballot after voting in Soweto, South Africa, Wednesday, April 22, 2009.
A woman casts her ballot after voting in Soweto, South Africa, Wednesday, April 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
South Africans queue to cast their votes outside a polling station during the 2009 election in Soweto, South Africa, Wednesday April 22, 2009.
South Africans queue to cast their votes outside a polling station during the 2009 election in Soweto, South Africa, Wednesday April 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's likely next president Jacob Zuma is eager to set up a new government that he says will bring visible change to improve the lives of the country's black majority.
South Africa's likely next president Jacob Zuma is eager to set up a new government that he says will bring "visible change" to improve the lives of the country's black majority.   (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma reacts during a news conference on the eve of a parliamentary vote, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma reacts during a news conference on the eve of a parliamentary vote, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, April 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
South Africans line up to cast their ballots at the Ntolwane primary school in the village of Kwanxamabala, South Africa, Wednesday, April 22, 2009.
South Africans line up to cast their ballots at the Ntolwane primary school in the village of Kwanxamabala, South Africa, Wednesday, April 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
People stand in line to vote in Khayelitsha, South Africa, Wednesday, April 22, 2009.
People stand in line to vote in Khayelitsha, South Africa, Wednesday, April 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)
South Africans queue to cast their vote outside a polling station during 2009 Election in Soweto, South Africa, Wednesday April 22, 2009.
South Africans queue to cast their vote outside a polling station during 2009 Election in Soweto, South Africa, Wednesday April 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
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South Africa • Jacob Zuma • African National Congress • South African elections • Kgalema Motlanthe

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