A Lebanese belly-dancer, a Chinese lion dance troupe, a Greek comedian, Portuguese folk dancers and an Italian tenor all endorsed the ANC at a function in Johannesburg on Saturday night.

President Kgalema Motlanthe, who was supposed to attend the event was a no-show, having just returned from the G20 meeting in the United Kingdom.

However, Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile and ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa were there, clapping in time to the beat as Lebanese belly-dancer "Taryn" whirled in a shimmering gold outfit.

The enormous Sandton Convention Pavilion hall was crowded with glamorously-dressed Italians, Greeks, Portuguese, Chinese, Indian and Lebanese.

In her front row seat, ABSA chief executive Maria Ramos was thanked by Phosa for "turning an economy that wasn't working into an economy that works".

Phosa told the gathering that the ANC valued its relationship with all minority communities, not just with the Afrikaans community.

"In as much as we value our association with Afrikaners, we value our association and partnerships with the English, Jewish, German, Greek, Chinese, Indian, Coloured and all communities.

"I cannot name all the minorities that have made me proud to be a South African in the rainbow nation, but you have certainly made heroic contributions in both the pre- and post-liberation periods," he said.

Minority communities were "an integral part of the moral majority". Pride in Zuma

Phosa was confident of a convincing ANC win in the election, as was Mashatile, who predicted a large majority.

"We want more than two-thirds so when [ANC president] Jacob Zuma comes in with his determination he can drive the country," he said.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said earlier this month that he was not looking forward to telling people overseas that Zuma was his president.

"In the year of [US President Barack] Obama, can you imagine what it is like when you are walking in New York and they ask you who will be the next president...?

"At the present time, I can't pretend to be looking forward to having him as my president."

Mashatile, however, said: "If I had an opportunity to walk the streets of New York or London and someone asks who is my president. I'll proudly say its Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma.

Among the many endorsers of the ANC on Saturday was Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research engineer Ntsiki Msimang.

It was important to vote ANC to "clear up the mess that those who have jumped ship have left", said Msimang, who lists on his website the people he would most like to meet as the Dalai Lama and Paris Hilton.

Former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ncguka, who also served as minerals and energy minister, had failed to ensure South Africa did not end up relying on other governments for energy security, he said.

"Clearly she didn't do her job and now she is asking us to cope with the mess she has left."

Mlambo-Ngcuka recently joined the ANC splinter group, the Congress of the People (Cope).

Msimang also accused Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota of failing to ensure a high standard of army research capacity as defence minister, while still a member of the ANC.

Support from Bullard

Controversial former Sunday Times columnist David Bullard also threw his weight behind the ANC.

"Some of you might be wondering what I'm doing here," he said. "Well, I'm a surprise guest."

He was supporting the ANC because of the success of its economic policies, he said.

"[Since 1994] we had more than a decade of economic growth and repaid the [National Party's] debt."

The ANC had also allowed people to take money off-shore and it had introduced the National Credit Act, which "stops us getting into the sort of mess the rest of the world is getting in".

"This is not the time to hand the steering wheel to someone who has never driven before," said Bullard, dressed in a smart black suit, white shirt, tie and handkerchief.

"God bless the ANC," he added