SOUTH AFRICA: Hundreds of thousands of ANC supporters attend party final election rally in Johannesburg / Nelson Mandela endorses ANC

Record ID: 215752

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Hundreds of thousands of ANC supporters attend party final election rally in Johannesburg / Nelson Mandela endorses ANC
  • Date: 20th April 2009
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, (APRIL 19, 2009) (REUTERS) ANC SUPPORTERS WEARING T-SHIRTS WITH "ZUMA" PRINTED ON THEM WALKING IN STADIUM HOLDING BANNERS SUPPORTERS WAVING HANDS IN THE AIR MAN HOLDING SIGN READING: "ANC FOR LIFE VOTE FOR JZ" FORMER SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA SEATED ON STAGE ANC LEADER AND CANDIDATE JACOB ZUMA SPEAKING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English
  • Embargoed: 5th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB9OF9D4CYL5VQUNLISJFZQILL
  • Story Text: Hundreds of thousands of ANC supporters attended the African National Congress party final election rally in Johannesburg, former South African President Nelson Mandela, who was in attendance, endorsed the party.
    Hundreds of thousands of South Africa's African National Congress party packed two adjoining Johannesburg sports stadiums for a final campaign rally ahead of this week's election.
    The party is likely to receive a boost thanks to the former president Nelson Mandela who attended the rally and endorsed the ANC in a pre-recorded message.
    ANC's leader and candidate, Jacob Zuma thanked Mandela for his unwavering support for the ANC. He called on ANC supporters to follow Mandela's example.

    "You have always been our leader, and indeed respected your organisation, and participated in its activities, thank you Madiba, thank you for the lessons and good example. We thank all comrades the hard working volunteers, woman's league and the youth league." Zuma said Zuma said his party had no plans to change the country's constitution and made a plea for unity among South Africans.
    The ANC is almost certain to win the poll but faces its biggest challenge in the April 22 national and provincial elections since coming to power when apartheid ended in 1994. Analysts expect it to lose its two-thirds parliamentary majority at the election with growing criticism over its performance on poverty, crime and AIDS.
    Sunday's rally was held at two adjoining Johannesburg sports stadiums with a combined capacity of more than 100,000.
    Supporters waving flags and banners and cheering their leader, wore the black, green and yellow ANC colours.
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