Election Time

A week ago today more South Africans than ever before went to the Polls to have their say in the most eagerly anticipated elections since the end of Apartheid. The buzz in Cape Town has been amazing, with everyone keen to voice their opinions and queue up for hours in some cases to make their vote count.

The results have been dramatic with the ruling African National Congress retaining their leadership in parliament but significantly, they did not achieve the two-thirds majority needed to change the constitution. This means that despite becoming President, Jacob Zuma will have more opposition from other parties than before, creating a more cooperative and hopefully increasingly productive government.

Here in the Western Province the Democratic Alliance won more than 50% of the vote which paves the way for real development in the region and an emphasis on the tourism industry. Everyone here is in a positive frame of mind and believes the next four years are critical for improving the state and image of the country.

For the latest articles on the elections and their implications visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2009/south_africa/default.stm

Cheers

Doug