The South African people expect their government to try all means to fulfill the late former President Nelson Mandela's vision of an equal society where the rich and the poor share the state resources in a way that eradicates poverty and closes the gap between them, an expert has told Xinhua.

Johannesburg-based independent political analyst and attorney, Sabelo Ngwenya said that as South Africa ventures into a post- Mandela era, the first task of the government will be to identify the major challenges that the country is facing.

"The current challenges facing South Africa as a country are poverty; race-based economic inequalities and corruption. The gap between the rich and the poor is too wide," Ngwenya said in an interview.

According to Ngwenya, the dream of Mandela who fought hard to establish an equal society is yet to be fulfilled.

It is now the government's task to fulfill this dream by ensuring that the previously disadvantaged people are empowered in a way that will enable them to get a fair share of the country's riches, said Ngwenya.

Ngwenya said, "The people of South Africa expect their government to address the various challenges like poverty, corruption and address the well-known race-based economic disparities that are relic of the country dark apartheid past.

"Although the death of Mandela united South Africans across tribes and races, that unity could quickly breakdown if the poor feel they are not given enough economic opportunities."

The expert also noted that the continued election of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) into power since 1994, is a true reflection that South Africans trust that the ANC-led government will fulfill Mandela's dream and try hard to uphold Mandela's legacy.

However, Ngwenya said that in return to that trust people expect the government to provide them with basic services, such as water, electricity, food and other life essentials.

He said the government should create enough jobs for South Africans and improve their lives.

Ngwenya warned that due to the slow delivery of these expectations by the government, South Africans are becoming impatient.

"The recent public booing of South African President Jacob Zuma at the memorial service of the late struggle icon held at FNB stadium is a clear indication that the current ANC leadership has lost the public goodwill it had during Nelson Mandela's term of office.

"This was a strong message by ordinary South Africans that they do not trust that Jacob Zuma and the current ANC government are doing their best to uphold and build on Nelson Mandela's legacy," Ngwenya said.

The political expert also argued that the ANC will definitely win the 2014 elections. He, however, believes that the party needs to vigorously implement the National Development Plan in order to cushion itself from the pressure that will be exerted by the newly formed political parties like the Economic Freedom Front (EFF) and Agang SA. Ngwenya says, "The rise of new political parties like EFF and Agang SA, coupled with the current infighting within the ANC-led political alliance, will be the primary reason why the ANC will perform below par."

He, however, said the ANC or the country will not experience chaos as a result of Mandela's death.

"The government and the people of South Africa can honour Mandela by forging ahead with his program of national reconciliation and nation building and addressing the lingering raced-based socio-economic imbalances dating back to the apartheid days," said Ngwenya. Endi

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