ANC wins fifth consecutive election in South Africa

The ruling African National Congress party (ANC) has won South Africa's fifth democratic election by a significant albeit reduced majority, debunking speculation that the party would be punished over high unemployment and political controversy.

Early on Saturday, and with 100 per cent of the votes tallied, the ANC had 62.2 percent of the count, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), was in second place with 22.2 percent of the votes.

In the previous election, in 2009, the ANC received 65.9 percent of votes cast and the DA had 16.6 percent.

The ANC thanked its supporters on social media, while the DA said its support base had grown because of its offer of "clean government and job creation".

The IEC is expected to confirm the results later on Saturday.

More than 25 million South Africans registered for this year's poll and voter turnout was 73.43 percent. It was the first election since the death of Nelson Mandela and marked 20 years since the end of apartheid.

The African Union observer mission declared the election to be "free, fair, transparent and credible".

The IEC, however, is dealing with four complaints lodged by opposition parties to the results. Those complaints have been lodged by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the United Democratic Movement and the Democratic Alliance. 

On Friday, EFF members protested outside the premises of the national broadcaster, alleging that the slow process of counting was a result of the ruling party rigging the vote.