Organisers had planned to call the new party, to be launched on December 16, the South African Democratic Congress.
But this name is already registered by a party led by former IFP secretary-general Dr Ziba Jiyane. This party – known as Sadeco – was formed in December last year after a split in the National Democratic Convention (Nadeco).
Sadeco secretary-general Sam Kennedy told the Cape Argus from Durban that although the party was not represented in Parliament, it was registered with the IEC and had a presence mainly in KZN but also in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
Sadeco supported multi-party democracy and had no interest in “creating any schisms or divisions” – but he said the new party’s organisers “should come and engage with us”.
The hiccup for the new organisation comes as battle lines are drawn for what is set to be the most fiercely contested election since 1994, with the ANC moving into top campaigning gear and organisers of last weekend’s national convention declaring they aimed to topple the ruling party.
Former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota told the Cape Argus today that the new party would first be registered with the companies register, Cipro, before it was registered with the IEC.
ANC president Jacob Zuma told thousands of supporters in Soweto’s Jabulani Amphitheatre yesterday that the new party was no threat, dismissing its leaders as “snakes” and “bigamists” who wanted to climb into bed with the opposition DA even before the “divorce papers” served by Lekota had been finalised.
But convention convener Mbhazima Shilowa has made it clear that the new party to be launched on December 16 in Bloemfontein – birthplace of the ANC – will contest the election on its own, signalling what now appears to be an irrevocable break with the ANC.
Convention organisers and delegates are expected to hit the ground running this week to set up the new party and mobilise support. Shilowa said yesterday that the aim would be to recruit widely in order to give the new party a broad base and to make it as inclusive as possible.
Shilowa also predicted there would be more defections from the ANC.
An interim core leadership was also decided yesterday. Lekota is chairman, Shilowa deputy chairman, former ANC NEC member Charlotte Lobe secretary, Mluleki George deputy secretary and former communications director-general Lyndall Shope-Mafole will be in charge of finances and fund-raising.
Membership forms have already been printed for distribution to the provinces. It’s understood that the joining fee is R30 (the ANC’s membership fee is R12 a year).
Party symbols and colours also have to be decided, as does policy. With elections expected in the first half of next year, the new party faces massive challenges to secure the funding and support it needs to pose a credible threat to the ANC at the polls.
Shilowa acknowledged yesterday there was a big difference between deciding to launch a party and actually doing so. “We do not underestimate the work that lies ahead.”
But he said: “We are starting on the basis that we want to become the next government – nationally and in the provinces”.
The ANC, however, is determined to throw all it has into its election campaign to ensure it returns to power with an increased majority. Comrades will be pitted against former comrades – and observers are worried about the potential for violence in the run-up to the polls.
Zuma yesterday painted the breakaway movement as representing the interests of the rich, telling his enthusiastic audience of about 5 000 people that “everything the ANC does, it does for the poor”.
“The ANC always has the interests of the poor and the destitute at heart. That is why we are here and not with the rich people (who attended the national convention in Sandton),” he said.
He urged ANC supporters to register for the elections, particularly those who have never voted before.
“We go to the election (next year) without any fear because we know that if our country is governed by leaders of the ANC, then this country is in dignified and good hands,” he said.
He described organisers of the National Convention, such as Lekota, as being bitter over their electoral loss in Polokwane. Zuma suggested that former leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu would never have abandoned the party in difficult times.
“When it was difficult in the ANC they stayed within the ANC and they fixed the problem of the ANC within the party. They didn’t leave, even when there were problems,” he said.
Zuma dismissed the breakaway move as posing “no threat” to the ANC and predicted that the ruling party would increase its majority in the next election.
To counter urbanisation and attract people back to rural areas, the government would have to invest in rural infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, electricity and water provision, said Zuma.
Zuma decried (constitutional) rights afforded criminal suspects, saying it was unacceptable that “criminals” had the right to remain silent when questioned by the police.
“Why are we cosying up to criminals when they have done wrong?”he said.
He urged ANC supporters to register for the elections, particularly those who have never voted before.
“We go to the election (next year) without any fear because we know that if our country is governed by leaders of the ANC, then this country is in dignified and good hands,” he said.
Shilowa revealed yesterday that the costs of Saturday’s national convention, held in the Sandton Convention Centre near Johannesburg, was still being calculated.
But when the costs of the venue, food and accommodation were added, “you’re talking around the region of R5 million if not more”, Shilowa said.
Asked whether the new movement had secured that money, or if it was already in overdraft, he said: “It will be covered.”
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