Pretoria, 25 April-(ANA)-Jacob Zuma, the man expected to become South Africa's president after his ANC party's electoral victory, has said he will work to unite the country.
"We have gone through a difficult period... it is now time to put it all behind us," he said in Pretoria after official results were announced.
The ANC won 65.9% of the vote but failed to obtain its previous two-thirds majority.
A two-thirds majority in parliament is needed to change the constitution.
Rejecting opposition allegations, Mr Zuma added that the ANC posed no threat to the constitution.
"There will be no surprises in the next administration's programme of action," he said.
"The electorate has endorsed our call for an equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth path that will bring decent work and sustainable livelihoods."
The ANC will have 264 seats in parliament - just short of a two-thirds majority.
The official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), will have 67 seats while in third place with 30 seats is the recently formed Congress of the People (Cope), which evolved last year from splits within the ANC.
The excitement and enthusiasm of voters had reminded everyone of the country's first democratic elections in 1994, he adds.
Mr Zuma will be sworn in as president in two weeks' time after his election by the new parliament. (ANA)
UK/Houthis