The African National Congress (ANC) will secure a decisive victory in the elections and the transition to a new government will be smooth, ANC president Jacob Zuma promised on Tuesday.

The ANC had "better policies" than any other party in South Africa and it had "done what was necessary" to secure a "huge, decisive mandate" for the party, he told a press briefing in
Johannesburg.

In a wide-ranging press conference, Zuma assured South Africa and the world that Wednesday's elections would be free and fair.

He congratulated South Africans and political parties for running a vibrant political campaign.

"Although emotions were intense, incidents of violence and intolerance were minimal."

He appealed to law enforcement agencies to protect South Africans, and to the citizens of the country to respect the rights of their fellows to cast their votes freely.

He described the 2009 elections as "more exciting" than South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994.

Zuma said he would remain accessible even after he was placed in the Union Buildings as the country's fourth democratically elected President.

"Yes, I will be accessible all the time... Interaction removes suspicion... I will see you guys regularly."

The press briefing, attended by many international and local journalists, saw Zuma answering questions ranging from the bus rapid transport system, to who he planned to include in his Cabinet once elected.

Zuma declined to respond to a question about whether Finance
Minister Trevor Manuel would remain in his post under the new administration.

He again dismissed assertions that there was a "cloud of suspicion" hanging over him, saying: "There is no cloud, there's not even a mist".