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| Party launched for 'all S Africa' | Party launched for 'all S Africa' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| 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. | "The history of South Africa will never be the same again," he said. |
| "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. |
| South Africa's previous main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, draws most of its support from white and mixed-race voters. | |
| 'Growth of democracy' | 'Growth of democracy' |
| 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. We need to fight joblessness and grow our economy Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota New party to challenge ANC ruleProfile: Mosiuoa Lekota | The BBC's Peter Biles reports from Bloemfontein that delegates have been locked in feverish political debates. We need to fight joblessness and grow our economy Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota New party to challenge ANC ruleProfile: Mosiuoa Lekota |
| 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. |
| 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." |
| Electoral test | Electoral test |
| 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. |
| Are you South African? Would you vote for the new party in next year's elections? What does this mean for democracy in South Africa? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you South African? Would you vote for the new party in next year's elections? What does this mean for democracy in South Africa? Send us your comments using the form below: |