UPDATE 1-South Africa’s Ramaphosa promises to ‘do better’ as election looms

(Adds EFF leader comments, EFF supporter)

By Bhargav Acharya and Nqobile Dludla

SOWETO, South Africa, May 25 (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed on Saturday to do more on issues including jobs and state welfare as he campaigned ahead of elections next week that polls suggest could loosen the African National Congress’ 30-year grip on power.

Political parties are holding rallies in the final weekend before the national and provincial elections on May 29, which Ramaphosa called one of the most important in the country’s history.

If poll predictions prove accurate, the ANC, which has faced corruption scandals, a sky-high unemployment rate and economic stagnation, could win less than 50% of the vote.

Such an outcome would mean it would have to seek one or more coalition partners for the first time since coming to power under the leadership of liberation hero Nelson Mandela at the end of apartheid.

“We gather here carrying with us the hopes and aspirations of millions of our people … to declare that together, we will do more and we will do better,” Ramaphosa told supporters dressed in the ANC’s colours of yellow, green and black who gathered at a soccer stadium in the country’s most populous township, Soweto.

In comments broadcast on national television, he said the ANC would focus on getting more South Africans into work, tackle the high cost of living, maintain existing social grants and progressively implement a basic income support grant for the unemployed.

Meshack Jantjie, 31, who is unemployed, said he planned to vote for the ANC because he had faith in Ramaphosa’s plans to create jobs – something he said was urgent.

“The ANC must do the right thing. We don’t have jobs. No money. We need to eat,” Jantjie told Reuters.

The promise of prosperity and empowerment at the end of white minority rule in 1994 has not fully materialised, with more than 30% of South Africans without a job and income inequality that is among the highest in the world.

EFF ‘READY TO LEAD’

Julius Malema, leader of the rival EFF party, told the youth not to cast their vote for the former liberation movement that has been struggling to fight corruption within their ranks.

Addressing a crowd in the northern Limpopo province, Malema said that unlike the ANC, the EFF was able to deliver on promises to grow the economy and fight unemployment.

“We are ready to lead government of South Africa from now onwards. We are ready to fight all kinds of criminals in our country, including the corruption of the politicians,” he told supporters sporting red T-shirts and hats.

Malema, 43, the former leader of the ANC’s youth wing, advocates seizing land from white farmers to redistribute to Black people and nationalising gold and platinum mines.

His supporters are mainly poor black South Africans who feel marginalized. In a poll published last month, Ipsos estimated support for the EFF at 11.5%.

Malema “understands and thinks about the future of South Africa, he puts it first,” Lebogang Nkgadima, a student at the University of Limpopo, told Reuters.

“Even us as youth, he puts us first. You can see that so I believe that we should give Malema a chance.”

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya, Nqobile Dludla, Thando Hlophe and Nellie Peyton; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Helen Popper)

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