The ANC literally could not campaign and still win the election. However, on the flip side - what other choice is there? No other political party is in a reasonable position to take over or even have a remote chance of giving the ANC something to worry about.
Take the lady in this picture; who else can she realistically vote for?
Sadly, that is true.
Last week they had elections in Emfuleni, a place that is falling apart, they have almost daily protests against the current regime due to daily power failures, no water, etc. The protesters even went as far as going to the mayor's house and turned off his power.
Who did they vote for last week? You guessed it, the ANC...
They complain, protest, riot, whatever due to the lack of service and then the following day they go and vote for those they protested against the previous day.