Mandela backs  ANC 

Pretoria, 20 April-(ANA)-Former South African president Nelson Mandela has made an unexpected appearance at the governing ANC party's final pre-election rally.

Wearing an ANC top, Mandela, 90, was cheered by supporters ahead of a speech by party leader Jacob Zuma.

Zuma is expected to become president after Wednesday's poll, the most competitive since the end of apartheid in South Africa in 1994.

Breakaway party Cope was also holding its final rally, in Limpopo province.

The latest opinion polls suggest that Cope, made up largely of former African National Congress members, could get as much as 15% of the national vote.

Cope officials used the closing campaign rallies to criticise corruption involving ANC officials.

"The ruling party has over the past few years demonstrated its defiance of the constitution and disdain for the rule of law," said deputy president Mbhazima Shilowa.

"Corruption, cronyism and nepotism have become the order of the day." (ANA)