ANC turns to internet to woo SA voters

As South African presidential and parliamentary elections edge closer, the ruling African National Congress is now wooing voters through the internet. The organization has posted its election advert to popular internet site YouTube with the hope of attracting as many supporters as possible.

“The ANC’s first-ever election advert is now on the ANC’s interactive elections web site (www.myanc.org) and on YouTube,” said ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte.

“The commercials were inspired by the thousands of suggestions received last year from members of the public towards the ANC 2009 Election Manifesto. In their own words, these people described their experiences over 15 years of democracy, what progress they saw, and what difficulties they faced. They made practical suggestions about how these difficulties should be confronted and overcome.”

Advertising agency Ogilvy Johannesburg was set the task of capturing this rich human story on film, ensuring that they portray the forthright manner in which South Africans speak of their lives and aspirations.
Ogilvy South Africa CEO Nunu Ntshingila says the campaign captures the lives of ordinary South Africans – an elderly man in a remote rural village, a young girl on the Cape Flats and youngsters in a bustling township.

“It’s about getting regular South Africans to tell their own stories about how the ANC has made their lives better and what they expect of the ANC in future. It is rooted in the insight that although people’s lives have been improved, there is still more to be done.”

Each commercial ends with ANC president Jacob Zuma accepting the challenges from South Africans.