The coming election will be a defining one, ANC president Jacob Zuma said at the ruling party's massive election rally held in Johannesburg on Sunday.

"The 2009 election is indeed a defining moment for the ANC and the country," said Zuma.

There was pessimism about the party a few months ago, but the "exuberant" election campaign showed that the African National Congress was still capturing the imagination and was generating the type of excitement not seen since the release of former president Nelson Mandela.

"The movement has come alive," said Zuma who prefaced his speech with a lively spell of dancing on stage, flanked by ANC chairwoman Baleka Mbete and stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

ANC deputy and the president of the republic, Kgalema Motlanthe also bobbed along next to Madikizela-Mandela.

Earlier, when acknowledging Mandela's presence at the rally, Zuma said he was there at his own request, referring to a report a few months back that Mandela was being taken to rallies against his will and the advice of his doctors.

"This leader of the ANC, this icon of this country, asked and instructed us that we should take him to a rally in the Eastern Cape in Idutywa.

"... Once again, he has asked to be part of the Siyanqoba rally today and we have also complied."

Prior to Zuma's taking the platform at the Johannesburg rally at Coca-Cola Park stadium ANC leaders assured Mandela and Zuma that South Africans will never abandon the organisation that took them out of hardships.

The likes of Gauteng premier Paul Mashatile, ANC Youth League Julius Malema and provincial education MEC Angie Motshekga were introduced by provincial housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane shortly after the event's opening prayers and a brief ancestral appeasal by traditional healers.

The leaders were addressing thousands of ANC supporters at the ANC's final election rally, known as Siyanqoba, ahead of going to the polls on 22 April.

"The ANC will win the elections on Wednesday. Zuma will come in and be the president... Vumani Bo!" Mashatile said.

Malema began by remembering legendary ANC leaders such as the late Chris Hani and Peter Mokaba.

"All leaders here we are guaranteeing you that the youth of South Africa will vote for the ANC. The ANC Youth League has mobilised youth in all corners of South Africa and even the most difficult ones," Malema said.

"We will never sell out what Chris Hani, Peter Mokaba and the 1976 youth stood for. The youth of today will defend the ANC," he said.

"People tell us the ANC has taken them out of hardships and they will never abandon it. People said they will join you [Zuma] in leadership through partnerships to do more," Motshekga told Zuma and Madiba.