Johannesburg, South Africa – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) staged its last major stadium rally on Saturday ahead of next week’s general election, aiming to maintain its unbeaten streak of post-apartheid victories.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed a crowd of more than two-thirds of the 90,000-seat FNB stadium between Johannesburg and Soweto, emphasizing the ANC’s role in uniting the country and its commitment to a brighter future.
“We will do more and we will do better,” Ramaphosa declared, rallying the faithful and undecided voters alike as the ANC fights to retain its majority.
However, despite the enthusiastic show of support, there was a sense of skepticism among some attendees. Lydia, a 35-year-old supporter, expressed fatigue with the ANC’s promises, stating, “We always hear the same story time and time again and nothing changes. We are tired.”
The ANC faces stiff competition from opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), as well as the newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) led by former president Jacob Zuma.
Growing disenchantment with issues such as unemployment, corruption, and inadequate public services has eroded the ANC’s once unquestionable dominance. However, the party still expects to lead the biggest single bloc in the National Assembly, though falling below 50 percent could complicate coalition-building efforts.
As the final weekend of campaigning draws to a close, South Africa prepares for a closely contested election on May 29, with millions of voters poised to decide the country’s future direction.
