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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| ANC dissidents attend convention | ANC dissidents attend convention |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A breakaway faction of South Africa's governing African National Congress has been meeting in Johannesburg to look at establishing a new political party. | A breakaway faction of South Africa's governing African National Congress has been meeting in Johannesburg to look at establishing a new political party. |
| Addressing more than 6,000 delegates, the faction's leader, Mosiuoa Lekota, accused the ANC of abusing its power. | Addressing more than 6,000 delegates, the faction's leader, Mosiuoa Lekota, accused the ANC of abusing its power. |
| The former defence minister said a new party was needed to prevent the country from returning to apartheid-style rule. | The former defence minister said a new party was needed to prevent the country from returning to apartheid-style rule. |
| The opposition leader, Helen Zille, said the convention could be a "turning point" for democracy in South Africa. | The opposition leader, Helen Zille, said the convention could be a "turning point" for democracy in South Africa. |
| "The ANC should be very afraid," warned the head of the Democratic Alliance, one of several political parties which attended the gathering. | "The ANC should be very afraid," warned the head of the Democratic Alliance, one of several political parties which attended the gathering. |
| The launch of the new party - as yet unnamed - will take place on 16 December in Free State province, Mbhazima Shilowa, a former provincial premier, announced at the meeting. | |
| Biggest crisis | Biggest crisis |
| Mr Lekota, who resigned as defence minister and spearheaded the breakaway after last month's forced resignation of President Thabo Mbeki, opened the convention to applause with a traditional ANC chant of "Amandla", or "Power", according to the AFP news agency. | Mr Lekota, who resigned as defence minister and spearheaded the breakaway after last month's forced resignation of President Thabo Mbeki, opened the convention to applause with a traditional ANC chant of "Amandla", or "Power", according to the AFP news agency. |
| Mosiuoa Lekota says he will 'stand-up' for the people of South Africa | Mosiuoa Lekota says he will 'stand-up' for the people of South Africa |
| He said the ANC dissidents had chosen to represent the views of the South African people. | He said the ANC 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. |
| Mr Lekota said the "dominant political forces" in the country - the leaders of the ANC - were "determined to abuse their power to advance their personal interests" as white minority government had done during apartheid. | Mr Lekota said the "dominant political forces" in the country - the leaders of the ANC - were "determined to abuse their power to advance their personal interests" as white minority government had done during apartheid. |
| "The threat the nation faces is that we will see the reaffirmation of important elements of that terrible legacy under our new masters," he added. | "The threat the nation faces is that we will see the reaffirmation of important elements of that terrible legacy under our new masters," he added. |
| "Shall we keep quiet and do nothing as we see the open betrayal of everything people saw as their hope for their future?" he asked to cries of "No!" | "Shall we keep quiet and do nothing as we see the open betrayal of everything people saw as their hope for their future?" he asked to cries of "No!" |
| Political schism | Political schism |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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. |