Mbeki kicks off election campaign

By Peter Biles
BBC News, Cape Town

Thousands attended the ANC rally in Cape Town

South African President Thabo Mbeki has outlined his priorities for the year and launched his party's manifesto for local government elections on 1 March.

He said his government remained determined to halve unemployment and poverty by 2014.

He was speaking in front of 20,000 supporters in Cape Town, at a rally to mark the ANC's 94th anniversary.

Mr Mbeki said that by 2010, all households would have access to clean water and decent sanitation.

After nearly 12 years in power, the African National Congress has much to celebrate.

South Africa is a stable democracy with a strong economy.

But there is also growing frustration and sometimes anger about the pace of change and the delivery of basic services to the poor.

Healing divisions

President Mbeki laid out ambitious targets for improving the quality of life.

Thabo Mbeki has set ambitious targets for the ANC

"We say all communities will have access to clean water and decent sanitation by 2010," he said.

"That all houses will have access to electricity by 2012 and that there is universal provision of free basic services."

Mr Mbeki also highlighted the need to combat corruption in local government and said councillors needed to be accountable and effective.

As it embarks upon this programme of action, the ANC is also trying to heal the divisions within the party following the corruption and rape charges against the former deputy President Jacob Zuma.

There has been an intense debate in recent months about President Mbeki's style of leadership and who will eventually succeed him.

But the ANC is intent on maintaining party unity in the run-up to the municipal elections in March.