South Africa ANC takes early lead in election results

The party that wins the most seats in parliament selects South Africa's president, who will be sworn in on May 25. [AFP]

South Africa's ANC was leading in early official results on Thursday following the first electoral test of whether President Cyril Ramaphosa has reinvigorated support for the ruling party.

With just over a fifth of voting districts tallied, the Election Commission count put the African National Congress ahead, with its closest rival the Democratic Alliance trailing at a distant 26 percent.