The Democratic Alliance and the Inkatha Freedom Party on Sundayurged South Africans to register next weekend for the 2004 generalelections. Speaking at a rally for his party and the IFP in Soweto, DA leader Tony Leon blamed apathy for the fact that so many people have not registered, and would be unable to vote next year. "My appeal to the people of South Africa is simply this: lookaround you, see the country that you live in, see the lives of your neighbours and families, then feel enough to register and vote,"Leon said. He said South Africans could clip the ruling African NationalCongress' wings if they voted for the DA and the Inkatha FreedomParty. Leon was addressing

a packed Jabulani amphitheatre in Sowetowhere the DA and IFP hosted a joint rally under the banner of"coalition for change". The vocal Leon added that many South Africans feared that theircountry was becoming a "shadow of a democracy" that was dominatedby one party. "They are afraid they will never see the better life that we were promised. "They worry that the hope of a rainbow nation ... will be destroyed by greed, insecurity and by a new racism," Leon said. Leon said his coalition for change with Buthelezi answered those fears. "That is why a vote for change next year, is a vote for the beginning of the end on one party domination in South Africa. "Our coalition for change means solutions to poverty, unemployment, crime and inadequate education. "Our coalition of change says to the ANC: 'you are now serving your notice'," Leon said. Most of the people at the amphitheatre were clad in their traditional Zulu regalia, waving knobkierries and chanting. Some wore T-shirts with an image of Buthelezi which had the inscription "the man you can trust". People travelled from allaround Gauteng to attend the rally Buthelezi said the coalition would challenge the ANC on thecreation of jobs, growing the economy, poverty, crime and health. "Alone, we cannot solve these problems. However, with thesupport of the South African people, there is no problem which is beyond solution. "What we need is a leadership willing to draw from the strength and commitment of the South African people," Buthelezi said. However, he and Lionel Mtshali,the national chairman of the IFP, were on several occasions forced to pause as an unruly crowd continued to chant the "amabutho" (praise) songs while their leaders were talking.