CAPE TOWN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- South African voters overwhelmingly believed that last week's general elections were free and fair, according to a survey released on Thursday.
The majority of voters expressed high level of confidence and trust in the elections, said the survey conducted by the South African Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).
Among the findings, 97 percent of voters expressed satisfaction in the secrecy of their vote and 95 percent believed that the election procedures were free and fair.
The survey shows 96 percent expressed general satisfaction with the quality of services and 96 percent expressed satisfaction with safety and security at voting stations.
The results are generally in line with the findings in both the 2014 general elections and the 2016 municipal elections.
The number of voters who said they were very satisfied with the secrecy of the vote grew from 62 percent in 2016 to 68.5 percent in 2019.
"These voters evaluations point firmly to the continued integrity of elections in the country," the HSRC said.
South Africans went to the polls on May 8 to elect their representatives for the National and Provincial Legislative Assemblies. In the elections, the ruling African National Congress emerged as the winner, capturing 57.51 percent of the votes.
The elections also endorsed a full term for President Cyril Ramaphosa who took over Jacob Zuma in February 2018 when the latter resigned over corruption allegations.
At least 14 of the 48 political parties who contested the election qualify for representation in the National Assembly.
