The African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday took an early lead as counting of national and provincial ballots continued in the early hours.

By 5 am the ANC had garnered more than 50 percent, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) at about 25 percent and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) a lowly 7 percent. 

Early counting placed the militant Black First Land First (BLF) in the distance with less than 700 votes of the million or so ballots counted so far.

As many as 48 parties participated in the elections on Wednesday.