SA Elections 2009

Yesterday my beautiful country (yes, I LOVE SOUTH AFRICA!) went to polls to vote for their next president & political party. Unlike other countries, we have 26 political parties that all 'battle' it out for the win. Millions of people countrywide queue up to cast their vote! We've only had democracry for 15years & so it's SO IMPORTANT that we vote... not only to honour those who fought for our democracy, but to take part in the growth of a flourishing country.

It's something we ought to all take pride in. (below - pic of Nelson Mandela casting his vote)

Two million votes were counted in the national elections by 06:15 on Thursday morning. The results, which put the ANC far in the lead with 1 289 275 votes, were released at the Independent Electoral Commission centre in Pretoria. This is around nine percent of the 23 181 997 voters registered to vote in the general elections on Wednesday. It is not yet clear how many of them turned out at the polls. The DA was a far second on the leader board with 424 711 of the votes. In third place was the recently-established Cope, which is only 126 days old, with 157 327 votes. The IFP took fourth position with 58 043 votes followed by the ID with 41 289. The FFPlus followed with 28 425 votes, while the A Party trailed in last with 365 votes. - SAPA