South Africa

ANC faction to break away

Article published on the 2008-10-08 Latest update 2008-10-09 08:54 TU

Former South African Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota
(Photo: Reuters)

Supporters of Thabo Mbeki in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) announced on Wednesday that they would call "a national convention" shortly, saying that the logical direction for them seemed to be the formation of a new political party.

"The leadership has veered away from our policy positions," former Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota declared, adding,"there must be an alternative to the ANC".

The leader of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, said the party would meet with Lekota "to engage". Rumours of a split have been rife since Thabo Mbeki was ordered by the party to resign as President of South Africa in September.

Lekota said the breakaway faction would definitely become a political party and would participate in the next South African elections. 

"The volume of support that we will command will be sufficient for us to put up a very serious political opposition", he said.

Asked how this new political formation would differ from the ANC, Lekota said the ANC was "moving away from equality before the law".

He also cited "a series of attacks on the country's judiciary" and said the ANC was moving away from "the principle of the rule of law".