South African President Jacob Zuma has dedicated his ANC's landslide victory in this week's elections to Nelson Mandela, 20 years to the day after the late liberation leader's inauguration.
"We dedicate our victory to Madiba's memory, and pledge to continue taking forward his legacy and that of his peers and forebears," Zuma said on Saturday, using Mandela's clan name.
The party's 62.15 per cent share of the vote meant an "overwhelming mandate" for a fifth term in government since the end of white-minority rule, said Zuma.
Nostalgia for the father of the nation, who died in December, helped bring support for the ruling party in Wednesday's polls despite a series of corruption scandals, galloping unemployment and economic doldrums.
Marking two decades to the day since Mandela became South Africa's first black president, Zuma said: "The victory also reaffirms that the ANC remains the only true hope for the majority of our people, particularly the poor and the working class."
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The results assured the ruling party 249 seats in the 400-member parliament, while main opposition the centrist Democratic Alliance's (DA) 22.23 per cent gave it 89.
New radical left-wing party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) came third with 6.35 per cent, propelling its inflammatory leader Julius Malema into parliament.
Anti-apartheid veteran Mamphela Ramphele, a former World Bank managing director, garnered two seats for her Agang party after a disappointing performance.
Over 73 per cent of the 25.4 million registered voters cast their ballot.
The opposition DA's parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, unexpectedly resigned although her party's support grew, according to comments published Sunday.
Mazibuko, 34, a rising star in the party, said in South Africa's Sunday Times that she would leave to study at Harvard University for a year.
