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| Party launched for 'all S Africa' | Party launched for 'all S Africa' |
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| The leader of a new political party in South Africa has said at the movement's formal launch that it will offer a home to all of the country's racial groups. | The leader of a new political party in South Africa has said at the movement's formal launch that it will offer a home to all of the country's racial groups. |
| Former Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said the Congress of the People, or Cope, was the "party of the future". | Former Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said the Congress of the People, or Cope, was the "party of the future". |
| Correspondents say the party could present real opposition to the African National Congress for the first time. | Correspondents say the party could present real opposition to the African National Congress for the first time. |
| It is made up largely of ANC defectors, and will challenge the governing party in national elections next year. | It is made up largely of ANC defectors, and will challenge the governing party in national elections next year. |
| Mr Lekota was speaking in Bloemfontein, where he was named as Cope's president. | Mr Lekota was speaking in Bloemfontein, where he was named as Cope's president. |
| "The history of South Africa will never be the same again," he said to a cheering crowd of some 4,000 delegates. | |
| "Ours shall be a truly non-racial party that will provide a true home to all South Africans irrespective of race, class or gender." | "Ours shall be a truly non-racial party that will provide a true home to all South Africans irrespective of race, class or gender." |
| The ANC has ruled South Africa since the end of white minority rule 14 years ago. | The ANC has ruled South Africa since the end of white minority rule 14 years ago. |
| We need to fight joblessness and grow our economy Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota New party to challenge ANC ruleProfile: Mosiuoa LekotaSend us your comments South Africa's main opposition party until now, the Democratic Alliance, draws most of its support from white and mixed-race voters. | We need to fight joblessness and grow our economy Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota New party to challenge ANC ruleProfile: Mosiuoa LekotaSend us your comments South Africa's main opposition party until now, the Democratic Alliance, draws most of its support from white and mixed-race voters. |
| Cope emerged after Thabo Mbeki resigned as president in September after a power struggle with ANC leader Jacob Zuma. | Cope emerged after Thabo Mbeki resigned as president in September after a power struggle with ANC leader Jacob Zuma. |
| Many supporters of the new party were unhappy at the way in which Mr Mbeki was forced to step down. | Many supporters of the new party were unhappy at the way in which Mr Mbeki was forced to step down. |
| The BBC's Peter Biles reports from Bloemfontein that delegates have been locked in feverish political debates. | The BBC's Peter Biles reports from Bloemfontein that delegates have been locked in feverish political debates. |
| They see the launch as a key moment that signals the growth and development of South Africa's young democracy, he says. | They see the launch as a key moment that signals the growth and development of South Africa's young democracy, he says. |
| Mr Zuma is also in Bloemfontein on Tuesday for a party rally widely seen as an attempt to divert attention from the launch of Cope. | Mr Zuma is also in Bloemfontein on Tuesday for a party rally widely seen as an attempt to divert attention from the launch of Cope. |
| "It is a call to us, as former soldiers of [ANC's now-defunct military wing Umkhonto weSizwe] MK, to participate in today's battles, the battles that are more important, the battles of building a new nation, of developing South Africa," he said. | |
| As it confirmed Mr Lekota as its leader, Cope named the former premier of Gauteng province, Mbhazima Shilowa, as its first deputy president. | As it confirmed Mr Lekota as its leader, Cope named the former premier of Gauteng province, Mbhazima Shilowa, as its first deputy president. |
| The party also unveiled its latest high profile supporter, the anti-apartheid activist and cleric Allan Boesak. | The party also unveiled its latest high profile supporter, the anti-apartheid activist and cleric Allan Boesak. |
| Mr Boesak was given a rapturous welcome by Cope supporters, before telling them that the tide had turned against the ANC. | Mr Boesak was given a rapturous welcome by Cope supporters, before telling them that the tide had turned against the ANC. |
| Mr Lekota, who has ruled out any reconciliation with the ANC, said that expanding the economy would be the linchpin of Cope's electoral campaign. | Mr Lekota, who has ruled out any reconciliation with the ANC, said that expanding the economy would be the linchpin of Cope's electoral campaign. |
| "We need to fight joblessness and grow our economy," he said. | "We need to fight joblessness and grow our economy," he said. |
| "Our approach is stability, hard work and growth." | "Our approach is stability, hard work and growth." |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Mosiuoa Lekota addresses Cope supporters | Mosiuoa Lekota addresses Cope supporters |
| Electoral test | Electoral test |
| South African analyst William Mervin Gumede told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that Cope is already starting to change the country's politics. | |
| "Cope has changed the ANC already - the ANC is trying to be more accountable, the ANC is trying to be more consultative and is going to the electorate to explain its decisions - something it hasn't done in the past." | |
| The breakaway party's formation has been marked by a lengthy and problematic search for a name. | The breakaway party's formation has been marked by a lengthy and problematic search for a name. |
| The ANC has laid claim to the Congress of the People, since it was the name used for a historic, ANC-sponsored event in 1955. | The ANC has laid claim to the Congress of the People, since it was the name used for a historic, ANC-sponsored event in 1955. |
| But the High Court ruled earlier this month that the new party could use the name. CONTESTED NAMES 1: South African National Congress, challenged by ANC as too similar to its name2: South African Democratic Congress, already registered by another party3: Congress of the People, refers to an event when the ANC's Freedom Charter was signed | But the High Court ruled earlier this month that the new party could use the name. CONTESTED NAMES 1: South African National Congress, challenged by ANC as too similar to its name2: South African Democratic Congress, already registered by another party3: Congress of the People, refers to an event when the ANC's Freedom Charter was signed |
| Cope was already the party's third choice. | Cope was already the party's third choice. |
| Its first choice - South African National Congress - was challenged by the ANC, which said it was too similar to its own name. | Its first choice - South African National Congress - was challenged by the ANC, which said it was too similar to its own name. |
| Their second choice - South African Democratic Congress - was already registered as a party. | Their second choice - South African Democratic Congress - was already registered as a party. |
| In its first electoral test earlier this month, the ANC dissidents won 10 of 27 wards in the Western Cape - the province where the ANC has always been least popular. | In its first electoral test earlier this month, the ANC dissidents won 10 of 27 wards in the Western Cape - the province where the ANC has always been least popular. |
| The Cope members had to stand as independent candidates because of the dispute over the party's name. | The Cope members had to stand as independent candidates because of the dispute over the party's name. |
| Our correspondent says the challenge for the new party is to distance itself from Mr Mbeki, and not appear like a group of embittered losers from last year's ANC national conference in Polokwane, where Mr Zuma defeated Mr Mbeki in a leadership contest. | Our correspondent says the challenge for the new party is to distance itself from Mr Mbeki, and not appear like a group of embittered losers from last year's ANC national conference in Polokwane, where Mr Zuma defeated Mr Mbeki in a leadership contest. |
| But he also says that Cope, which says it has more than 400,000 members, is in a position to make serious inroads into ANC dominance. | But he also says that Cope, which says it has more than 400,000 members, is in a position to make serious inroads into ANC dominance. |
| The ANC has around 650,000 paid-up members. | The ANC has around 650,000 paid-up members. |