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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| ANC dissidents begin convention | ANC dissidents begin convention |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Dissident members of South Africa's governing African National Congress are meeting in Johannesburg to discuss the formation of a breakaway movement. | Dissident members of South Africa's governing African National Congress are meeting in Johannesburg to discuss the formation of a breakaway movement. |
| More than 4,000 people were expected to attend the two-day convention to draft policies for the new party, expected to challenge the ANC in polls next year. | More than 4,000 people were expected to attend the two-day convention to draft policies for the new party, expected to challenge the ANC in polls next year. |
| The bitter ANC split followed last month's swift forced resignation of President Thabo Mbeki. | The bitter ANC split followed last month's swift forced resignation of President Thabo Mbeki. |
| Police have tightened security around the venue to prevent any violence. | Police have tightened security around the venue to prevent any violence. |
| This weekend's meeting will bring together the ANC dissidents as well as some of the country's opposition parties, which now see a political realignment on the horizon. | This weekend's meeting will bring together the ANC dissidents as well as some of the country's opposition parties, which now see a political realignment on the horizon. |
| Biggest crisis | Biggest crisis |
| Former Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota - who has spearheaded the breakaway movement - opened the convention with a traditional ANC chant, the AFP news agency reported. | Former Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota - who has spearheaded the breakaway movement - opened the convention with a traditional ANC chant, the AFP news agency reported. |
| Former ANC chairman Mosiuoa Lekota says he will 'stand-up' for the people of South Africa | |
| Mr Lekota said the dissidents had chosen to represent the views of the South African people. | Mr Lekota said the dissidents had chosen to represent the views of the South African people. |
| "We have no apology to anybody. We have decided and we are ready to fight as messengers and representatives of hope for the people," he told delegates. | "We have no apology to anybody. We have decided and we are ready to fight as messengers and representatives of hope for the people," he told delegates. |
| The new party, which does not yet even have a name, is due to be officially launched in December, officials of the movement say. | The new party, which does not yet even have a name, is due to be officially launched in December, officials of the movement say. |
| The convention should provide a clearer indication of the precise challenge the ANC is now facing, says the BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg. | The convention should provide a clearer indication of the precise challenge the ANC is now facing, says the BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg. |
| The oldest party on the African continent is facing its biggest crisis in nearly 50 years, according to our correspondent. | The oldest party on the African continent is facing its biggest crisis in nearly 50 years, according to our correspondent. |
| Mr Zuma says the party is unfazed by the upheaval of recent weeks but with a general election just months away, analysts believe the ANC's troubles may affect its campaign. | Mr Zuma says the party is unfazed by the upheaval of recent weeks but with a general election just months away, analysts believe the ANC's troubles may affect its campaign. |
| Political schism | Political schism |
| The infighting stems from a power struggle between Mr Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who defeated Mr Mbeki to become party leader last December. | The infighting stems from a power struggle between Mr Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who defeated Mr Mbeki to become party leader last December. |
| Mr Mbeki stood down in September after a judge suggested he may have interfered in the prosecution of Mr Zuma on corruption charges. Mr Mbeki strongly denies the claim. | Mr Mbeki stood down in September after a judge suggested he may have interfered in the prosecution of Mr Zuma on corruption charges. Mr Mbeki strongly denies the claim. |
| His ousting led ex-defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota and other loyalists to quit the ANC in protest. | His ousting led ex-defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota and other loyalists to quit the ANC in protest. |
| ANC leader Jacob Zuma hopes to be South Africa's next president | ANC leader Jacob Zuma hopes to be South Africa's next president |
| Mr Lekota, a former ANC chairman and leader of the breakaway movement, officially resigned from the party on Friday. | Mr Lekota, a former ANC chairman and leader of the breakaway movement, officially resigned from the party on Friday. |
| The disaffected ANC members accuse the party of undermining South Africa's young democracy. | The disaffected ANC members accuse the party of undermining South Africa's young democracy. |
| The political schism marks a dramatic shake-up in a country where the ANC has dominated political life since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. | The political schism marks a dramatic shake-up in a country where the ANC has dominated political life since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. |
| The ANC won more than two-thirds of votes in the last election and controls a strong majority in parliament. | The ANC won more than two-thirds of votes in the last election and controls a strong majority in parliament. |