South Africa's ANC takes early lead in vote, battle for cities still on

A women wearing ANC regalia casts her vote during the local government elections in Hillbrow, central Johannesburg. (Photo: Courtesy)

Johannesburg: South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) was leading its rivals early on Thursday as vote counting proceeded in local government elections that could see it lose control of key cities for the first time since coming to power.

The party, which toppled white apartheid rule after the country's first democratic elections in 1994, is up against its stiffest electoral challenge to date against the backdrop of high unemployment, a stagnant economy and controversies surrounding President Jacob Zuma.