The New National Party was pragmatic on Thursday about the close competition offered by the Independent Democrats (ID) in the election in which traditionally Afrikaner parties have lost votes.

"Clearly they are giving us a run for our money," said the NNP's Juli Kilian.

She emphasised, however, that with still many votes still uncounted that the true positions were not yet certain.

Kilian blamed a short sighted electorate who were attracted to "parties that played the opposition game," for their poor performance so far.

"The minority are opting for the so called strong opposition. We are concerned about this trend."

She said this could eventually lead to the polarising of the electorate. She said the NNP believed it was far better to ensure harmony and work towards negotiation.

"It is not a very popular approach right now," she said.

These sentiments were echoed by National Action (NA) leader Cassie Aucamp when he too accused his supporters of leaving him in the lurch.

"I am not happy with the way the results have gone," he said on Thursday at the IEC's election centre in Pretoria.

He believed many of his would-be voters eventually decided to support the ID.

"Unfortunately the NA is like the Free State rugby team -- everybody's second choice," he said adding that unfortunately there was only one vote.

Aucamp said it was "back to the drawing board."

"We have to get our message across because we still feel that our policies are the only ones that are going to see South Africa through the integration process," he said - Sapa.