Photo: Associated Press
Former South African President Nelson Mandela made a surprise appearance at the final rally of African National Congress ANC campaigns ahead of the Wednesday poll.

The 90 year old emerged from retirement to support Jacob Zuma in his bid for presidency. As he struggled to get to the stage over 90,000 supporters were cheering him. He did not address the crowds but instead a pre-recorded message was played on large screens.

Nelson Mandela was joined for 27 years for opposing apartheid, he later became president of South Africa for one term from 1994 to 1999 and stepped aside for the young leaders so that he could focus on other responsibilities like fighting AIDS.

Jacob Zuma was appointed deputy president in 1999 by the then President Thabo Mbeki who later fired him in 2005 after he had been implicated in a corruption scandal.

Congress of the People(COPE) a new party formed shortly after Thabo Mbeki resigned and comprises of people who broke away from the ANC had about 5,000 people on their final rally.