JOHANNESBURG: South Africa`s ruling African National Congress staged its last major stadium rally on Saturday ahead of next week`s general election as it fights to protect its unbeaten streak of post-apartheid victories.

President Cyril Ramaphosa`s party summoned the faithful and bussed in the undecided to fill more than two-thirds of the 90,000-seat FNB stadium between Johannesburg and Soweto and give his re-election bid some buzz.

`We will do more and we will do better,` the 71-year-old millionaire former businessman told the crowd, branding the ANC `the only political party in the whole of South Africa that can bring so many people together in one place`.

`We gather here carrying together the hopes and aspirations of millions,` hesaid. `Our people will decide whether our country continues to move forward with the ANC to a brighter future or turns back to a terrible past.` The president won occasional cheers as he pledged not to scrap black economic empowerment programmes and suggested a possible raise in grant money for the poor.

But the crowd was already thinning markedly when musical entertainment gave way to his hour-long speech.

`There was not much people here at the stadium today, the reason being we always hear the same story time and time and again and nothing changes. We are tired,` said 35-year-old Lydia, whose mood was less bright than her yellow hat and T-shirt.

Her friend Judy agreed: `Before, the ANC would fill this stadium.`-AFP