South Africa Elections: Sixth post-apartheid polls set to open in just hours

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02:07

South Africans will head to the polls, just hours from now, for the sixth election since the end of Apartheid. Most parties are promising to create jobs, fight crime, poverty, and corruption, as well as make more land and homes available. As CGTN's Rene Del Carme reports, the gloves are off, as the parties try to secure their future.

A new poll shows that the ruling African National Congress will win the NATIONAL election with about 61-percent of the vote. While arch political rivals, the ANC and the DA, are neck-and-neck in the battle for the Western Cape.

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT "I know that we are all going to vote, so that the ANC can retain power at the national level. And take power here in the Western Cape."

MMUSI MAIMANE LEADER, DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE PARTY "This election is a choice between jobs or corruption. The evidence is there. You want jobs, you vote DA. You want corruption, you vote for the others."

RENE DEL CARME CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA "Right now the battle for the Western Cape Province is so intense, and the rivalry between the ANC and DA so great, that the DA has called on voters not to squander their votes on the smaller opposition parties."

The DA which governs the Western Cape is desperate to keep the province out of ANC and EFF hands. But the EFF believes it has a good chance of winning the hearts, minds and votes of the people of the Western Cape.

JULIUS MALEMA LEADER, ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS "Amanda! Awethu! Comrades we are here to take over what belongs to us. This government of Western Cape belongs to the EFF. Belongs to the people of Western Cape."

Rene Del Carme, CGTN, Cape Town, South Africa.