Of the 4 187 voting stations in KwaZulu-Natal, only 50 had still not completed counting ballots, the provincial Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Thursday.

Every other station had completed tallying the results, electoral officer Mawethu Mosery told journalists at the IEC's results centre in Durban.

"Officials have been awake for nearly 36 hours - and we're still working," he said.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Mosery said there had been a 50% voter turnout by 17:00 on Wednesday. This had increased to about 70% by late evening.

"We may have a better picture on results by midday tomorrow [Friday] as counting concludes."

He said there had been delays in receiving the ballots from some rural areas due to "geographical challenges"

Democratic Alliance member Michael Ellis told Sapa the party was confident of winning the coveted Indian vote in KwaZulu-Natal.

"We know we have won their hearts."

African National Congress (ANC) spokesperson Nomfundo Mcetywa said the party was "extremely pleased" with the results in the province so far, showing that the ANC was poised for victory.

"Currently, the ANC is enjoying a clear lead. We are confident that we will maintain this and improve on it as the day progresses."

She said the party had made inroads in northern parts of the province, particularly in Inkatha Freedom Party strongholds.

"In Mhlabuyalingana, Nseleni, Mtubatuba, KwaMbonambi and Nkandla the ANC is enjoying an unassailable lead," Mcetywa said.

The province's ANC chairpreson Dr Zweli Mkhize was expected to visit the IEC results centre shortly.