"In 1994 we voted for Nelson Mandela, then for Thabo Mbeki, then again for Jacob Zuma. But nothing has changed," sighed Aubrey Kutlawano after attending an election rally by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
"They are just greedy people working for themselves," he declares of the African National Congress (ANC).
After decades fighting apartheid and its entrenched discrimination, the ANC came to power 25 years ago promising "A better life for all" — housing, services, education and jobs for black people denied equal opportunities under decades of apartheid.
"This time I'm just not going to vote," said Kutlawano, disillusioned.
Around him, the stadium in Johannesburg's Alexandra township emptied swiftly. Ramaphosa's closing words had barely died down before he was hustled to a limousine by bodyguards.
Polls suggest it will dip to an unprecedented low of 61 percent in parliamentary vote — still far ahead of its nearest competitor, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) which holds less than a quarter of the seats.
But on the campaign trail, Ramaphosa — a trade union leader-turned multi-millionaire — sometimes appeared out of touch with the daily struggle of the masses.
Ramaphosa expressed "shock" at the state of electricity provision in a country where people have had to find ways of living around regular power cuts.
The DA runs their municipality, part of Johannesburg, but it is the ANC — which governs the larger Gauteng province — they blame.
Overlooked by the glass and steel towers of the upmarket Sandton business and shopping district — considered Africa's richest square mile — the township bears witness to the failings of government.
"Everybody is complaining about Alex being a high-crime place, that's only because people don't have jobs," said resident Kgomotso Mosepidi.
"People are forced to steal to make a living," added the father of eight, who has a diploma in information technology but has been unemployed for five years.
"The state is doing nothing for us, they are just coming to get our votes and then they disappear for five years," said Nana Zweni, a 44-year-old, unemployed mother of four.
"It's the liberation movement, they set us free. And Cyril is a face of hope. Better the devil you know…," summarised Zweni.
Before Alexandra, Ramaphosa had travelled about 300 kilometres (185 miles) south to Thabong township in the mining town of Welkom, where he promised new houses, laptop computers and "a better life" overall.
"We must respond to the pain and the suffering of our people here," he told the rally, punctuating his speech with shouts of "Amandla" ("Power") as in the time of revolutionary struggle.
"Since we are in a democracy, nothing has really changed. We're still living here in (an) informal settlement, struggling to get basic services," said Tau Mphasa, 54.
Jacob Mpho, 34, also thinks Ramaphosa "is a good guy".