South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) has taken an early lead in the general election, partial results show.

With 20% of votes counted, the ANC had almost 56% of the vote followed by the Democratic Alliance on 31%.

The ANC is widely expected to return to power although analysts say anything less than 60% of the vote for the party will be seen as a major upset.

The electoral commission said voting passed peacefully in most areas.

Turnout was just over 72%.

The elections are the first since the death in December of Nelson Mandela - the country's first black president - and mark 20 years since the end of white-minority rule.

(BBC)