Democratic Alliance (DA) and Congress of the People (Cope) and ANC were having their last campaign meetings over the weekend as the elections come up on Wednesday.

However, the unexpected return of Mandela who commands respect world over for his humbleness and HIV/AIDS fight at the ANC rally was like instilling power to ANC.

The 90 year old Mandela’s appearance is said to be the biggest possible endorsement of Zuma, and that it conjures up memories his last active campaign in 1994, when South Africa held its first democratic elections.

The ANC goes to the polls with their presidential candidate Zuma facing a huge task from parties like DA and COPE.

According to a BBC report, Mandela was cheered by supporters whilst wearing an ANC T-shirt.

Mandela is reported to have urged the ANC to remember that its main task was to eradicate poverty and build a united, non-racial society.

"As we strive to secure a decisive victory for our organisation in the upcoming elections we must remember our primary task. It is to eradicate poverty and ensure a better life for all," he said.

Mandela further said that ANC has the historical responsibility to lead South Africa and help build a united non-racial society.

The ANC leader whose corruption cases were dropped recently stressed the message of racial unity in his opening remarks to the rally.

"We reaffirm that South Africa belongs to all of us, black and white," said Zuma adding that in working together they would develop the country.

This was the second appearance for Mandela as he also did the same a few months ago when the ANC held its rally.

A snap survey conducted recently tipped the ANC to win Wednesday’s elections.

According to reports the ANC is hoping to repeat the success of five years ago, when it secured a two-thirds majority in parliament.

The DA under Hellen Zille which also held its last rally in Cape Town called on the people to cast their votes wisely and was recently quoted as saying that Zuma was not fit to rule South Africa.

The country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has reported that more than 23 million people, including 16,000 of the South Africans in the Diaspora, have registered to vote.