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| Zuma calls for 'massive' turnout | Zuma calls for 'massive' turnout |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Jacob Zuma has said his party expects a "massive" turnout in South African elections to be held on Wednesday. | Jacob Zuma has said his party expects a "massive" turnout in South African elections to be held on Wednesday. |
| The African National Congress (ANC) leader encouraged supporters to make this the biggest turnout in the country's history. | The African National Congress (ANC) leader encouraged supporters to make this the biggest turnout in the country's history. |
| He said the emergence of the opposition Congress of the People (Cope) had "re-energised" the ANC. | He said the emergence of the opposition Congress of the People (Cope) had "re-energised" the ANC. |
| These elections are the "most exciting" the ANC has had to fight since coming to power in 1994, he said. | These elections are the "most exciting" the ANC has had to fight since coming to power in 1994, he said. |
| The party split last year with disaffected members forming Cope. | The party split last year with disaffected members forming Cope. |
| Mr Zuma has also faced corruption charges which were dismissed by a court with just weeks to go before voting. | Mr Zuma has also faced corruption charges which were dismissed by a court with just weeks to go before voting. |
| "There is no cloud above my head, there is not even a mist," he told journalists in his final press briefing before polls open. | "There is no cloud above my head, there is not even a mist," he told journalists in his final press briefing before polls open. |
| The ANC is widely expected to win by a big margin, which would lead to Mr Zuma being elected by the members of parliament. | The ANC is widely expected to win by a big margin, which would lead to Mr Zuma being elected by the members of parliament. |
| Voter boost | Voter boost |
| This year more voters registered with the Independent Election Commission than before, raising the total number of eligible voters to more than 23 million. | |
| POLL IN NUMBERS 23m registered voters19,700 polling stations9,130 candidates - 3,511 female2,000 soldiers deployed4,000 local observers, 153 from abroad Special report: South Africa election Q&A: General elections Is South Africa about to change? | POLL IN NUMBERS 23m registered voters19,700 polling stations9,130 candidates - 3,511 female2,000 soldiers deployed4,000 local observers, 153 from abroad Special report: South Africa election Q&A: General elections Is South Africa about to change? |
| Many of the new voters are young people who have little memory of the struggle to end white minority rule, which brought the ANC to power. | Many of the new voters are young people who have little memory of the struggle to end white minority rule, which brought the ANC to power. |
| Analysts say the emergence of Cope in November last year could have accounted for the boost in voter numbers. | Analysts say the emergence of Cope in November last year could have accounted for the boost in voter numbers. |
| But polls have recorded Cope's popularity falling since then. | But polls have recorded Cope's popularity falling since then. |
| "As they emerged, people decided they weren't what they thought," political scientist Bob Mattes told the BBC. | "As they emerged, people decided they weren't what they thought," political scientist Bob Mattes told the BBC. |
| Cope has fielded a relatively unknown presidential candidate, former Bishop Mvume Dandala, who has struggled to make an impact on the public scene, analysts say. | Cope has fielded a relatively unknown presidential candidate, former Bishop Mvume Dandala, who has struggled to make an impact on the public scene, analysts say. |
| Around 200,000 ANC supporters filled several stadia on Sunday to see Mr Zuma address them via satellite link from a rally in Johannesburg's Ellis Park. | Around 200,000 ANC supporters filled several stadia on Sunday to see Mr Zuma address them via satellite link from a rally in Johannesburg's Ellis Park. |
| A Cope rally in Polokwane Limpopo province attracted around 5,000 supporters. | A Cope rally in Polokwane Limpopo province attracted around 5,000 supporters. |
| 'Cultural revolution' | 'Cultural revolution' |
| Some say the real battle is between Cope and the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance, for second place. | Some say the real battle is between Cope and the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance, for second place. |
| Neither party has ruled out entering into a coalition after the election. | Neither party has ruled out entering into a coalition after the election. |
| Voters in South Africa give their views on the most competitive elections since the end of apartheidIn pictures | Voters in South Africa give their views on the most competitive elections since the end of apartheidIn pictures |
| An opposition coalition would provide the biggest challenge to the ANC since it was first elected in 1994. | An opposition coalition would provide the biggest challenge to the ANC since it was first elected in 1994. |
| DA leader Helen Zille has said her party wants to deny the ANC a two-thirds majority this time around. | DA leader Helen Zille has said her party wants to deny the ANC a two-thirds majority this time around. |
| They say the ANC want to change the constitution to make it harder to prosecute politicians for corruption. | They say the ANC want to change the constitution to make it harder to prosecute politicians for corruption. |
| Mr Zuma has said the Constitutional Court "like all institutions, needs reform", but the ANC respected the separation of powers and simply wanted to speed up the courts decisions. | Mr Zuma has said the Constitutional Court "like all institutions, needs reform", but the ANC respected the separation of powers and simply wanted to speed up the courts decisions. |
| Mr Zuma has had corruption charges relating to a government arms deal against him dropped twice in the last two years. | Mr Zuma has had corruption charges relating to a government arms deal against him dropped twice in the last two years. |
| The National Prosecuting Authority withdrew the charges in April after phone tap recordings of the lead investigator and prosecutor suggested there had been political interference in the prosecution. | The National Prosecuting Authority withdrew the charges in April after phone tap recordings of the lead investigator and prosecutor suggested there had been political interference in the prosecution. |
| Mr Zuma has always said he was the victim of a political conspiracy. | Mr Zuma has always said he was the victim of a political conspiracy. |
| But his financial adviser was convicted of fraud and corruption in 2005, and was sentenced to 15 years. | But his financial adviser was convicted of fraud and corruption in 2005, and was sentenced to 15 years. |
| He was released on medical grounds in March. | He was released on medical grounds in March. |
| Political commentator Xolela Mangcu says this is the first time that the country is about to be led by someone not from the educated elite of black society. | Political commentator Xolela Mangcu says this is the first time that the country is about to be led by someone not from the educated elite of black society. |
| "There is a cultural revolution in the ANC," he said. | "There is a cultural revolution in the ANC," he said. |
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