On Saturday, President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to tackle South Africa's important issues like unemployment and state welfare during his campaigning before next week's elections.
According to primarily polls, Wednesday's vote could potentially see Nelson Mandela's party failing to secure an absolute majority for the first time in three decades, possibly receiving less than 50% of the vote.
"We gather here carrying with us the hopes and aspirations of millions of our people…[They] will decide whether our country continues to move forward with the ANC to a brighter future or turns back to a terrible past." Ramaphosa told supporters at FNB Stadium between the country's capital Johannesburg and Soweto.
Ramaphosa made it clear that the ANC's main priorities are increasing employment opportunities for South Africans, addressing the rising cost of living, upholding current social grants, and gradually introducing a basic income support grant for the unemployed.
The governing party is fully aware of the difficult circumstances that many South Africans are experiencing and is committed to making meaningful changes, he added.
In his address to ANC supporters, the president emphasized that the ANC is the sole political party in all of South Africa capable of uniting such a large crowd in one location.
"We will do more, and we will do better," he said.
Ramaphosa's comments are made as the ANC faces criticism for not adequately handling diverse socio-economic issues.
One of the ANC's biggest critics is the leader of the opposition EFF party, Julius Malema, 43, advised the young people not to vote for the former liberation movement.
Speaking to an audience in the northern province of Limpopo on Saturday, Malema asserted that the EFF had been able to fulfill its promises to combat unemployment and boost the economy, in contrast to the ANC.