Durban: South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) today (April 16, 2004) clinched the biggest-ever electoral victory in a decade of its rule since the end of apartheid, garnering almost 70 per cent of the votes with President Thabo Mbeki pledging not to disappoint people and to deliver on his campaign promises.

Preliminary results showed the ANC secured nearly 70 per cent votes in the third Democratic elections for the 400-member National Assembly in the country while the main Opposition Democratic Alliance got 13 per cent votes.

The Democratic Alliance, supported by Whites, also improved its performance this time. It had secured only nine per cent votes in the 1999 polls.

"It is quite clear that the ANC has got the overwhelming support and confidence of the people of South Africa," he said at the offices of Independent Electoral Commission.

"It also, I think, poses a challenge to the ANC not to disappoint the expectations of the millions of people who voted so overwhelmingly for the ANC."

Despite a likely two-thirds majority in Parliament, Mbeki said he has no intention of changing the Constitution.

A turnout of almost 75 per cent was estimated among the 21 million voters in the polls in which the ruling party during the apartheid era, the New National Party, saw its support drop dramatically, gaining below two per cent of the votes.

The results were preliminary until certified by the Independent Electoral Commission. Parties had until 21:00 hours tonight (00:30 hours IST tomorrow) to file any objections.