President Mandela has launched a voter registration drive aimed at winning a two-thirds majority for the governing African National Congress in elections next year so that it can pursue greater economic and social reforms.

Speaking to party activists, Mr Mandela defended the government against criticism of high unemployment and crime and said it had done more to deliver housing, water and electricity than any previous South African government.

But Mr Mandela, who retires next year, admitted he was sad that people could still be as corrupt as under the apartheid regime.