Elections, you think its all over...it is now...

So it is all over, although the final results will only be officially announced tomorrow. Just heard Thabo Mbeki's victory speech on the radio. The ANC had polled even better than before with 69.7% of the votes, or somewhere close to that. The ANC has also won Kwazulu-Natal. The Democractic Alliance has also made some gains to 12.39%. But I suspect the DA will not convert themselves into a serious opposition until they shift their public persona from one of 'opposition for the sake of opposition' to putting forward some credible alternative policies. My humble opinion is that Tony Leon, leader of the DA, may have to go at some point for this to happen as his image is tied up with the 'opposition for the sake of opposition ' approach and linked too tightly to the conservative white vote. A wider ranging opposition is needed. The National Party is in free fall and got less than 2% of the vote. No loss there if you know what I mean. So, don't know what else to say at this point. Congratulations is in order for the ANC who by all accounts ran a very targetted and strategic campaign, no complacency there. Above all else, I am delighted that South Africa now has three free and fair democratic elections under belt...the people have spoken...and it all feels like we have been running democractic elections for years now, which is rather nice...