JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling ANC leader Jacob Zuma called for a massive turnout at an election on Wednesday to give his ruling party a decisive mandate in its toughest test since the end of apartheid.
Zuma is expected to become president after the ballot, but the African National Congress risks losing the two-thirds majority in parliament it needs to change the constitution.
A big turnout could strengthen Zuma's mandate in the face of the challenge from a new opposition party formed by ANC dissidents and after corruption charges against him that were dropped on a technicality.
Zuma appealed to South Africans to vote in large numbers and to give the ruling party an overwhelming majority.
"We anticipate a massive turnout and we expect that the people of this country will once again give the ANC a huge and decisive mandate to work together with them to further improve their lives," he told a last news conference before the vote.
Opposition parties hope to capitalise on growing frustration with poverty, crime and AIDS as well as doubts over corruption.