JOHANNESBURG, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The ruling African National Congress (ANC) is currently leading in South Africa's 2024 national and provincial elections, with about 42 percent of the votes, as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has counted over 60 percent of the ballots by Friday noon.

The IEC's results dashboard showed that 14,245 of 23,293 voting districts have been counted and completed.

Millions of people went to the polls on Wednesday in what was anticipated to be the country's most fiercely contested election since the end of apartheid in 1994.

As of noon on Friday, with 61.16 percent of the voting districts counted, the ANC was in the lead at 41.94 percent, with 3,634,911 votes cast for the party, according to the IEC. The opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA), was second on the dashboard with 22.97 percent, garnering 1,990,979 votes. The newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, founded by former President Jacob Zuma, was in third position with 1,010,680 votes at 11.66 percent. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were fourth with 9.52 percent, securing 824,597 votes.

The announcement of the election results will also touch on the voter turnout, but it appears to be below 60 percent so far, which is less than the 66 percent recorded in the 2019 general elections.

Experts said that, based on the IEC's live statistics, the ruling party may not surpass the 50 percent mark at the national level. The ANC was on the brink of losing its traditional stronghold of KwaZulu-Natal to the MK Party, which was leading in the province with over 44 percent.

The IEC said it is likely to announce the results of the election on Sunday.

Staff members of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) work at the National Results Operations Center in Midrand, South Africa, on May 31, 2024. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) is currently leading in South Africa's 2024 national and provincial elections, with about 42 percent of the votes, as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has counted over 60 percent of the ballots by Friday noon. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

Staff members of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) work at the National Results Operations Center in Midrand, South Africa, on May 31, 2024. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) is currently leading in South Africa's 2024 national and provincial elections, with about 42 percent of the votes, as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has counted over 60 percent of the ballots by Friday noon. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

Staff members of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) work at the National Results Operations Center in Midrand, South Africa, on May 31, 2024. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) is currently leading in South Africa's 2024 national and provincial elections, with about 42 percent of the votes, as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has counted over 60 percent of the ballots by Friday noon. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

Staff members of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) talk at the National Results Operations Center in Midrand, South Africa, on May 31, 2024. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) is currently leading in South Africa's 2024 national and provincial elections, with about 42 percent of the votes, as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has counted over 60 percent of the ballots by Friday noon. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)