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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Mbeki ally to form breakaway ANC | Mbeki ally to form breakaway ANC |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former South African Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota is expected shortly to announce a breakaway party from the ruling African National Congress (ANC). | Former South African Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota is expected shortly to announce a breakaway party from the ruling African National Congress (ANC). |
| It is reported that Mr Lekota is being joined by other ANC members loyal to former President Thabo Mbeki, who was forced to resign last month. | It is reported that Mr Lekota is being joined by other ANC members loyal to former President Thabo Mbeki, who was forced to resign last month. |
| The ANC is divided between supporters of Mr Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who won party elections last year. | The ANC is divided between supporters of Mr Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who won party elections last year. |
| General elections are due in South Africa in the first half of next year. | General elections are due in South Africa in the first half of next year. |
| Mr Lekota, a former ANC chairman, last week wrote an open letter, in which he accused the new ANC leadership of damaging democracy. | Mr Lekota, a former ANC chairman, last week wrote an open letter, in which he accused the new ANC leadership of damaging democracy. |
| You can't believe in the ANC and its policies so deeply, and then form an organisation that repeats the same policies ANC leader Jacob Zuma | |
| Transport Minister Jeff Radebe responded by saying Mr Lekota and those who supported him were free to leave the party. | Transport Minister Jeff Radebe responded by saying Mr Lekota and those who supported him were free to leave the party. |
| Mr Mbeki stood down after a judge suggested he may have interfered in the prosecution of Mr Zuma on corruption charges. | Mr Mbeki stood down after a judge suggested he may have interfered in the prosecution of Mr Zuma on corruption charges. |
| The former South African leader strongly denies this and has appealed against the judge's ruling. | The former South African leader strongly denies this and has appealed against the judge's ruling. |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Johannesburg says Mr Mbeki is not expected to take a leading role in the new formation. | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Johannesburg says Mr Mbeki is not expected to take a leading role in the new formation. |
| Responding to rumours about the split, Mr Zuma said he thought it would be short-lived. | Responding to rumours about the split, Mr Zuma said he thought it would be short-lived. |
| "I don't think it would have a very long life span, I would be surprised," he said on Tuesday evening, the South African Press Association reports. | "I don't think it would have a very long life span, I would be surprised," he said on Tuesday evening, the South African Press Association reports. |
| "You can't believe in the ANC and its policies so deeply, and then form an organisation that repeats the same policies, that would be funny," he said. | "You can't believe in the ANC and its policies so deeply, and then form an organisation that repeats the same policies, that would be funny," he said. |
| Deep roots | Deep roots |
| The BBC's Africa analyst Martin Plaut since its foundation in 1912, the ANC has shown an extraordinary degree of unity. | The BBC's Africa analyst Martin Plaut since its foundation in 1912, the ANC has shown an extraordinary degree of unity. |
| Thabo Mbeki was seen by critics as aloof and pro-business | |
| Where other liberation movements crumbled, it managed to stick together, despite the difficult years it spent in exile during the struggle against apartheid, he says. | Where other liberation movements crumbled, it managed to stick together, despite the difficult years it spent in exile during the struggle against apartheid, he says. |
| He says although Mr Mbeki's dismissal was the spark that ignited this rebellion its roots are deeper. | He says although Mr Mbeki's dismissal was the spark that ignited this rebellion its roots are deeper. |
| In Mr Lekota's open letter to the party, he attacked the ANC for allowing members of the South African Communist Party (SACP) to take over leading positions. | In Mr Lekota's open letter to the party, he attacked the ANC for allowing members of the South African Communist Party (SACP) to take over leading positions. |
| "The ANC is not the SACP and the SACP is NOT the ANC." | "The ANC is not the SACP and the SACP is NOT the ANC." |
| The SACP is in a formal alliance with the ANC. | The SACP is in a formal alliance with the ANC. |
| It was an alliance that served both well during the liberation struggle, when the SACP provided finances and weapons to the ANC from the Soviet Union, Mr Plaut says. | It was an alliance that served both well during the liberation struggle, when the SACP provided finances and weapons to the ANC from the Soviet Union, Mr Plaut says. |
| Mr Lekota argues that the distinction between the parties has now been blurred, with the ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe also the chairman of the SACP. | Mr Lekota argues that the distinction between the parties has now been blurred, with the ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe also the chairman of the SACP. |