South Africa prepares for elections

April 20, 2009 Final polls show the holding a commanding lead going into Wednesday's.

A Plus 94 poll of 7000 voters showed the ruling ANC with 60% support, with the and  neck-in-neck on 16% and 15% respectively.

An Ipsos Markinor poll of 3,531 voters showed the ANC with 64.7%, Democratic Alliance with 10.8%, and Congress of the People with 8.9%. 4.2% were, while 3.9% refused to state a preference.

Meanwhile, the main political parties have held their final. Former President appeared at the ANC's final pre-election rally in Johannesburg to support presidential candidate. Mandela said that the ANC's main task was to eradicate poverty and build a better life for all.

"The ANC has the historical responsibility to lead our nation and help build a united non-racial society," he said.

Zuma promised to fight crime, boost public spending, and invest in. He also said that there would be no room for in his government, and that that ANC would not use its majority to subvert the.

"Our track record speaks for itself. We use our majority responsibly and in an inclusive manner. In 15 years that [the ANC] has been in power, it has never used its electoral mandate to change the constitution," he said.

The ANC is hoping to repeat its success in the and win a two-thirds majority, enabling it to change the constitution at will.

Supporters of the rival Congress of the People, which split from the ANC last year, held their rally in.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, held its rally in Cape Town. Opposition leader reminded her supporters of past allegations of corruption and  against Zuma, and warned that his election would turn South Africa into a "".

"In 10 years time people will look back and everyone will know the DA was telling the truth from the start," she said.

400 representatives will be elected by in Wednesday's poll, half from national and half from provincial lists. Forty parties are contesting the elections, and 23 million South Africans are.