ANC rebels to register new party

ANC rebels to register new party

REBEL: South Africa's former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota

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By Gordon Bell

A BREAKAWAY faction of South Africa's ruling African National Congress is still looking for a new name for its party after discovering that its latest choice was already taken, a spokesman said on Monday.

The new grouping, led by a former defence minister and other ANC defectors loyal to ousted President Thabo Mbeki, had intended to register itself on Monday as the South African Democratic Congress.

"That name is being used by another political party. We must chart another course in a meeting tomorrow," party spokesman Mbulelo Ncedana said.

The first choice, the South African National Congress, prompted a legal challenge by the ANC, which is struggling to prevent a string of defections from increasing ahead of elections next year.

Former Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and other leaders of the new party said at a convention at the weekend that they wanted to be in the government after next year's polls. They will launch their party on December 16

Lekota was among those who resigned in September in sympathy with Mbeki, forced by the ANC to step down as state president.

Mbeki was defeated by Jacob Zuma in a bitter contest for the ANC leadership in 2007 and then ousted by the party nine months later after being accused of trying to smear his rival with a corruption case. Zuma is the front-runner to take the presidency in next year's election.

Mbeki has not linked himself to the breakaway party, but has also said he does not want to be part of the ANC election campaign. - Reuters
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