(VOVworld)- South African police on Wednesday fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at supporters of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party who attacked an opposition rally in Johannesburg, amid escalating tensions ahead of a crunch general election.

Members of the ANC march during a protest against South African opposition party Democratic Alliance on Feb 12, 2014 in Johannesburg. Photo: AFP

ANC activists hurled Molotov cocktails and bricks at police protecting members of the Democratic Alliance (DA) who held a march for jobs near the ANC's headquarters in the city centre. ANC called this rally a reckless provocation and a declaration targeting this party’s headquarter. The DA march had been planned as part of campaigning in the run-up to May 7 elections, which are expected to be the most competitive since the advent of democracy in the country in 1994. The violence aims to protest the situation of lacking basic commodity. The ANC is supposed to win the election and maintain their regime. However, the DA hopes to gain control in the main regions and provinces.