Will 'end of world' ruin ANC party?
2011-05-20 22:22
Johannesburg - As the ANC gets ready for its victory party following its overwhelming win in the local government elections, will celebrations be ruined by the world inconveniently coming to an end on Saturday?
If Harold E Camping, an 89-year old Christian radio broadcaster in California is to be believed, then Saturday, May 21st at 18:00 is apparently the day that Jesus is coming back.
If proven true, the timing could be cruel irony for the ruling African National Congress as President Jacob Zuma has said the party would rule "until Jesus comes back".
After 97.1% of the voting districts had been counted on Friday the party's support stood at 61.9%, giving it 5 214 council seats nationally.
The Democratic Alliance took 1 396 seats nationally thus far, receiving 24.1% support.
The ruling party had won just over 21 million votes with the DA getting seven million.
ANC Youth League president Julius Malema found the idea of the world coming to an end in a few hours hysterical.
Throwing back his head in laughter Malema said: "I don't see us, with this power that we gained today, losing it tomorrow," he said.
Malema was in high spirits as he visited the election results centre in Pretoria on Friday.
When asked about President Zuma's comments about the ANC ruling till Jesus came back, Malema said: "The president was simply meaning that we will rule for many years."
Deejay Gareth Cliff tweeted "Transfer all your property to me if you really believe you'll be raptured when Armageddon rolls round on Saturday, or admit it's nonsense".
Cliff did not believe the world would end on Saturday as the expiry date on his milk carton was May 22.
Senior pastor of Rhema Bible Church Ray McCauley said he would spend Saturday relaxing at home with his family and preparing for Sunday service.
He would also be following up on the final results of the local government elections.
"As a person and as a church we don't believe in such human prophetic predictions because the Bible is very clear on this subject. No one knows the time and the date," McCauley said.
The Daily Mail reported that some Americans were making the most of their time left with "Rapture Parties" across the country.
Others organised "anti-Rapture parties" - with a tongue in cheek proviso that the events could be cancelled due to a natural catastrophe of some sort.
According to the publication, atheists had taken a more practical approach to the rapture by offering an insurance plan for pets that won't join their owners in heaven.
The company, Eternal Earth-bound Pets reportedly has 258 clients.
- SAPA