The ANC had begun its campaign to win the upcoming elections to ensure South Africa remained "in good, caring hands", ANC president Jacob Zuma said on Sunday.

Elections were a crucial point in the life of a democracy, Zuma told an assembly of a few thousand ANC cadres at the Pretoria Show Grounds.

The party had begun a journey to campaign and win the elections "to ensure (that) South Africa remains in good caring hands".

"We're here to prepare ourselves, to prove many critics wrong that have a lot to say whether the ANC will win, will increase (their) percentage," Zuma told the assembly which included Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramokgopa.

He said elections gave political parties an opportunity to go back to the masses and account to them, after which they would then ask the people to vote for them. He said this also afforded people the opportunity to make their own choices.

Crucial point in a democratic society

"Elections... it's a matter of convincing people, to come to them, it is a crucial point in the life of a democratic society. Elections are very important. After elections you know where you stand.

"Power and authority in the hands of people is crucial for the life of a democracy," he said.

He however called on the party to work harder in order to move forward.

"...We need to gather our forces... the ANC as the leader of the alliance has to be more organised," he said stressing that the alliance also needed to be "totally united".

He said problems within the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) needed to be addressed, adding that he thought they could be resolved quickly.

"We can't go to elections with the state of Sanco. We are preparing for war elections, we need Sanco here," he said.

ANC different from other parties

Discipline within the party was important, Zuma said, as well as reflecting on the past.

He referred to the United Democratic Front, the umbrella body to which several anti-apartheid organisations inside the country were affiliated in the apartheid years.

"I'm not saying we should revive it but reflect (on it)," he said.

Zuma said he believed that the ANC was different from other parties in that it was a governing party and had opposition parties who criticised it.

"The ANC is the main factor in this country, in politics in economics," he told the group.

He said it was important for the party to focus on elections.

"When you go to elections... it is not the time to be critical of yourself. Criticism must be reduced, if not put aside," he said.

"We must increase our percentage, we have culture of increasing our percentage," said Zuma who wore an ANC logo shirt and dark pants.

The Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday ruled that the decision to prosecute Zuma on fraud and corruption charges was invalid.

The hall where Zuma was speaking erupted in joy when he sang his trademark song "umshini wam".

One of the members at the gathering thanked the court for its decision.

Sapa