ANC scores top name for tight election

In a time of increasing political uncertainty for South Africa, there is one name that almost everyone in the country would like to see on the ballot in the coming election: Mandela.

And it is there, only it is not Nelson but his grandson, Nkosi Mandla Mandela, who will be running for the African National Congress in South Africa's most important vote since the end of apartheid.

The man with the most famous surname in South African politics has an even grander first name, given to him after he took on the role of Xhosa chieftain, an honour his grandfather abandoned to lead the struggle against minority rule.

He eschews his given name, Mandla, and prefers to be known as Zwelivelile, Xhosa for "The Nation has Appeared", the name given to him at his inauguration as chief. The Mandelas' reclamation of their royal past has made him traditional leader to 250,000 of his compatriots in the impoverished Eastern Cape.

The younger Mandela has not had to stand in line with the ANC either; it gave the newcomer the equivalent of a safe seat, placing him high on its parliamentary list and effectively guaranteeing he will be an MP after April 22.

Despite his sudden entrance into the political arena only six weeks before the election, a move that even the former President Mandela claims took him by surprise, the 35-year-old insists he takes his extraordinary political inheritance seriously.

"It's good to know that the Madibas are still on the roll," Mandela snr told his grandson, using his nickname, which means Great Man.

"I'm proud of you."

The 90-year-old who led South Africa out of apartheid is one of the few living rebuttals to the old joke that a statesman is a politician who has been in the ground for 15 years. His 90th birthday was greeted with global celebrations, and he is at least as well-loved in his vast home country as he is by his millions of supporters worldwide.

"There won't be another Nelson Mandela," says his grandson, in an effort to edge respectfully out of a giant shadow.

"My grandfather has astounding achievements and has created a huge legacy for the Mandelas. We strive to hold on to a small piece of that, to do something to honour him, be it building hospitals, schools or clinics."

There are already some who believe the Xhosa chief has been playing irresponsible politics with his grandfather's health. There was widespread criticism of the decision to wheel out the ageing icon at a political rally in the Eastern Cape last month in support of the ANC leader Jacob Zuma.

It later emerged that the rare public appearance had taken place without the usual precautions managed by Mandela snr's own foundation, sparking concerns that proper health procedures were not followed with the elder statesman.

Mandela jnr was instrumental in that move and strongly rejects accusations that the ANC took shortcuts to score political points ahead of what's expected to be its tightest electoral contest.

"It was my grandfather's decision to come. He's been wanting to appear in the campaign for some time. He asked to appear with Jacob Zuma."

Asked if the former President would be appearing again on the campaign trail to show family support, Mandela jnr replied: "My grandfather has done enough but from time to time he wants to perform. If the old man has such wishes then he will. Obviously at 90, we've got to respect his health."

Mandela jnr is facing similar scepticism over his own qualifications for a swift ascent into Parliament. It is his role as traditional leader that he is keen to talk up to counter claims that he is a political neophyte.

The grassroots work he describes, trying to help some of the poorest people in South Africa, villages without access to electricity, running water or modern sanitation, is in itself a criticism of the ANC's progress in overhauling the deeply unequal state it inherited. Zwelivelile blames this on Thabo Mbeki, the man who took over from his grandfather as ANC leader and President of South Africa.

It is this deep dissatisfaction at the absence of a democratic dividend among ordinary people that led to the split in the ANC, Mandela jnr believes.

"The split has been about a lot of people feeling that a new character needed to take office. The people are crying out for change. Jacob Zuma gets the support of the grass roots."

He is even happy to compare the former deputy president, who is still battling corruption charges and is seen by many to be steeped in the dirty politics that some claim have ruined the ANC, to his legendary grandfather.

"Zuma has the same charisma. He knows how to talk to people and understands the struggle [against apartheid] was won by ordinary men and women."

Mandela jnr is not so kind to the Mbeki supporters who broke away from the ANC after their man was unseated at the party assembly last year to form the Congress of the People (Cope).

"If you look at the characters who have left they're people who have always been sitting in office."

The split in the ANC has triggered speculation that its electoral dominance will be challenged for the first time.

But the aspiring MP is among those who believe the challenge from Cope will reawaken the party's vast base and that it will retain its two-thirds majority.

"I don't think it will be a tight election. It's the media who have made it seem tight."

- INDEPENDENT