In a bid to secure a seventh term in office, South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) held its final rally under the banner Siyanqoba (Zulu for We Are Conquering) on Saturday. However, with a low turn-out and mounting challenges, the ANC's chances of success in the upcoming election appear to be in jeopardy.

Despite efforts to rally support, the ANC's campaign posters and t-shirts failed to create a buzz, reflecting its current struggles. The party was unable to fill the 90,000-seat football stadium in the historic township of Soweto, where the rally was held. This lackluster showing follows ongoing criticism of the ANC for power cuts, government corruption, and high unemployment levels, prompting voters to consider punishing the party at the polls.

According to opinion polls, the ANC may even lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years, since the end of white-minority rule. Faced with the possibility of losing power, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa rallied the remaining supporters, declaring a "decisive victory" for the party in the forthcoming election.

In a demonstration of disdain towards opposition parties, some ANC supporters paraded coffins symbolizing parties such as former President Jacob Zuma's newly-formed party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK). Former President Zuma's defection to spearhead MK's campaign caused a major shock in December, and ANC loyalists made their stance clear by treating his new party as obsolete.

However, opinion polls suggest that MK could still garner significant support, potentially receiving 8% to 13% of the national vote, which could block the ANC from securing a parliamentary majority. Furthermore, MK might emerge as the largest party in Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal, effectively challenging ANC control in the region.

Aware of the looming threat, President Ramaphosa took aim at his predecessor during the rally, indirectly referencing Zuma's departure from the ANC and tackling the issue of corruption head-on. Ramaphosa highlighted efforts to recover stolen funds through state capture and emphasized the successful prevention of further attempts to destabilize the tax department. However, Ramaphosa himself faced a scandal in 2022 when it was revealed that cash had been stolen from his game farm. Although legal experts recommended impeachment proceedings, the ANC's parliamentary majority prevented any action from being taken against him.

While corruption and electricity blackouts remain major concerns for South Africans, recent months have seen a significant reduction in power cuts. Some skeptics argue that this improvement is temporary, orchestrated by the ANC to maintain a positive image during the campaign. Ramaphosa defended the ANC's efforts to deal with the energy crisis, assuring supporters that power stations were being better maintained, and promising that the issue would be resolved in the party's next term.

Despite the numerous challenges facing South Africa, including water shortages and crumbling infrastructure, the ANC is still expected to emerge as the largest party, even if it falls short of the 50% threshold. Many voters credit the ANC with ending apartheid and creating a welfare state, though the issue of homelessness remains prevalent.

As the ANC rally concluded with a less-than-impressive showing, the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) prepares for its final campaign rally. However, with the DA receiving only around 22% of the vote in recent polls, it seems unlikely to pose a significant threat to the ANC's dominance. Furthermore, the opposition's fragmentation, with 51 competing parties on the national ballot, plays into the ANC's favor.

As the election day approaches, it remains to be seen whether the ANC can secure the majority needed to continue its reign or whether the South African political landscape is on the brink of change.