Africa's oldest liberation movement, South Africa's ruling African National Congress, will celebrate its centenary at a rally today, where President Jacob Zuma hopes to reassert his leadership.
46 heads of state have arrived to celebrate Africa's oldest liberation movement marking the 100th anniversary, with 100,000 supporters expected in the city of Bloemfontein.
The mass event in Bloemfontein wraps up weekend celebrations for the African National Congress, which Nelson Mandela led to power after the fall of apartheid.
The splashy celebrations have also given the party a chance to remind the public of its storied legacy, amid deepening frustration at scandals and unfulfilled promises to the poor.
The ANC marked its founding on 8 January 1912 with the midnight lighting of a centenary torch that will travel to the rally, where heads of states and foreign supporters are expected.
In his address, Zuma is expected to lay out the party's path forward as he seeks to rein in divisions ahead of year-end party elections where some of his erstwhile backers are now pushing for his removal.
None of those opposed to him, including fiery youth leader Julius Malema, will be allowed to speak at the rally.
Increasingly frail talisman Mandela, who became South Africa's first black president in 1994, did not attend the celebrations which reached out to the ANC's diverse membership with a golf tournament, ritual animal slaughter and concerts.
An inter-faith service at the church where the party was founded 100 years ago launched the bash, the day after African heads of state paid tribute to the ANC's inspiration of other liberation movements on the continent.
The party also thanked its international supporters with party veteran Ahmed Kathrada, who was jailed alongside Mr Mandela, saying dignity and humanity had been the most important achievement of democracy.
Founded to fight discrimination, the ANC was banned by South Africa's white apartheid rulers in 1960, and its leaders jailed four years later.
Nearly three decades later, the crumbling regime released Mr Mandela, who oversaw the peaceful transition that set the path for huge wins in regular polls ever since.
But South Africans are increasingly frustrated over corruption smears and dashed expectations, with 38% of the nation still living in poverty despite the party's sound economic policy and major gains in providing houses, water and toilets.
Critics say too many people have been left to make do with shoddy public hospitals and schools, a dangerously high joblessness rate of 25%, violent crime and a grim life in shantytowns.
