JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Three months ahead of South Africa's general elections in May, analysts predict that political parties would take a bold stance against widespread corruption and unemployment, and focus their election campaigns on land reform.
"They would be campaigning about what seems to be what people are concerned about, unemployment problems, but the question is how they will create them (jobs)," political analyst Shadrack Gutto told Xinhua.
Unveiling South Africa's ruling party African National Congress (ANC) manifesto in January, President Cyril Ramaphosa said its objective is to create more than 275,000 jobs annually, revitalize the economy and bring investment.
Opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) launched a manifesto that prioritizes land and jobs.
"Parties will emphasize the importance of ensuring stable access to electricity, deal with poverty and reduce crime levels," Gutto added.
Jannie Rossouw, head of the Economic & Business Sciences School at Wits University, said the focus of economic reforms is crucial.
"We will see a lot of campaigning on economic growth and job creation. The public will want to see details of growing it," Rossouw noted.
South African's 2019 general elections are scheduled for May 8.
Since the 2016 local government elections which witnessed the ruling ANC lose control of Johannesburg, Tshwane and the Nelson Mandela Bay municipalities, some believe this would be the most contested poll since the end of apartheid.
