The ruling African National Congress has a comfortable lead in South Africa's presidential and parliamentary elections with 80 per cent of the vote counted.
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However the ongoing tally shows the party getting less support than in the previous poll five years ago.
The ANC, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, had 57 per cent of the vote, according to results announced by the electoral commission late Friday morning.
This is a dip from the 62 per cent of the vote it won in 2014.
The ANC's forecast victory, despite its reduced margin, is seen by many as a mandate for Mr Ramaphosa to continue his work to clean up corruption in the party.
In the campaign, Mr Ramaphosa acknowledged the problem in the party, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid 25 years ago. He vowed to have no corrupt members in his cabinet.
The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has received nearly 22 per cent of the vote, about the same share it received in the last elections.
The populist, left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters increased its share of the vote from 6 per cent to 10 per cent.
Voter apathy has been a factor as the turnout of eligible voters is 65 per cent, down from 2014's 74 per cent.
More than 40 smaller parties also took part and 31 smaller parties have together lodged a complaint of irregularities and calling for an audit of the vote and a possible re-run.
In South Africa, the president and parliament are not elected directly.
The number of votes won by each party determines how many representatives are sent to the national 400-seat legislature. The president of the country is the leader of the party that gets the most votes.
Results from South Africa's more remote areas are expected to trickle in and electoral officials say final results may not be announced until Saturday.
Australian Associated Press