S. Africa conducts local elections

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 18 (UPI) -- Polls across South Africa opened Wednesday and millions of voters cast ballots in the country's third local elections since apartheid ended 17 years ago.

Polling services indicate the ruling African National Congress would collect nearly 60 percent support, but opposition party Democratic Alliance was expected to maintain control in the Cape Town area and make inroads in other metropolitan areas, Radio France Internationale reported.

Analysts said the midterm elections are expected to focus on the ruling party's ability to deliver services to a country experiencing 20 percent unemployment and a population in which one in three people gets jobless benefits, RFI said.

In the local elections five years ago, turnout was 48 percent, the country's election officials said.