South Africa elections 2009 - rally

Mandela arrives for Zuma's last rally before vote

Article published on the 2009-04-19 Latest update 2009-04-19 16:32 TU

Nelson Mandela (R) is helped off the stage by ANC president Jacob Zuma on Sunday
(Photo: Reuters)

Former ANC leader Nelson Mandela attended the final rally of Jacob Zuma on Sunday in a stadium in Johannesburg. Tens of thousands of Zuma supporters gathered ahead of next Wednesday's elections, the country's fourth since its first democratic elections in 1994.

Zuma's ANC is expected to win the vote, with more than 60 per cent of voters saying they will give their ballot to his party.

Mandela said on Sunday that the ANC's main priority should be the eradication of poverty. "The ANC has the historical responsibility to lead our nation and help build a united non-racial society," Mandela said.

He did not address the crowd but a pre-recorded message was played as he sat on stage.

Zuma told the crowd that South Africa belonged to "everyone, black and white" and said he would ensure that "no South African ever feels devalued because or race, culture or religion".

"Jacob Zuma is a crowd-pleaser extraordinaire but Nelson Mandela almost stole the show," says correspondent Nick Champeaux. 

"This afternoon the atmosphere was already electric before Mandela arrived, but when his golfcart arrived in the stadium's precinct, the crowd just went absolutely crazy".

The two men arrived together with Mandela wearing a Zuma teeshirt.

 

"It's a blow for the Cope [Congress of the People party, formed from a dissident split from the ANC]," Chapeaux says, "because Mandela confirmed today that he was supporting Jacob Zuma".

After his speech, which Champeaux says included a call for unity, "he sang his favourite struggle song Umshini Wami and started dancing on the main stage".

On France 24 TV  Zuma vows to bridge gap between blacks and whites