ANC stands at 55.4% of votes counted‚ with DA at 33% and EFF 4.9%

A total of 58% of the local government election results had been counted by lunchtime on Thursday.

Counting started late on Wednesday night after voting stations closed at 7pm.

Nationally the African National Congress was leading by 55.4% followed by the Democratic Alliance with 33%.

First time contenders the Economic Freedom Fighters were in third with 4.9%.

A total of 232 of 22‚664 voting districts had been counted.

The turnout at this point in the count stood at 49.5%.

At a media briefing on Thursday morning the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said the counting of votes had been completed in all but a “handful” of voting stations. The results were then signed off by election officials and party agents and taken to the regional results centre where they were captured into the results system.

By 11am on Thursday‚ 77.8% had been captured‚but they are not then announced but rather subjected to independent audit verification before being finalised.

The Northern Cape is expected to be finalised on Thursday afternoon.

- TMG Digital/BDLive