A child plays in a polluted canal in the troubled Bekkersdal township south of Johannesburg, May 3, 2014. Bekkersdal is one of many townships that have seen violent service delivery protests ahead of the country's May 7 elections. In most countries as developed as South Africa, angry protesters throwing rocks, torching government buildings and blocking roads with burning tyres would strike fear into the ruling party in the run-up to a national election. Such is the dominance of the African National Congress (ANC), it is expected to maintain a two-thirds majority at Wednesday's vote, despite increasing numbers of violent protests by throngs of poor youths demanding better government services. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)