Johannesburg - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Wednesday cajoled and threatened a group of disaffected party members, who announced plans to start consultations on the formation of a splinter party. Former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota told a news conference earlier he was serving "divorce papers" on the ANC, because of what he called the party's departure from the principles of non-tribalism and respect for the rule of law under party leader Jacob Zuma.
At the same time, in a sign that whatever new party may emerge will try to position itself as the "real ANC" he said: "We are the ANC because we are committed to the polices and principles of the ANC."
Asked whether the mooted new formation would challenge the ANC in elections slated for April or May, he said: "Of course, yes, we have to contest the elections next year."
Attempting to downplay the announcement, which had been expected since Thabo Mbeki was ousted as president by the ANC last month, ANC treasurer-general Matthews Phosa told a separate press conference: "The marriage has not broken down. We all have to be cool and find each other to go ahead with the process of reconciliation."
Zuma took a sterner approach, warning Lekota there was "a limit" to utilizing party structures to destabilize the ANC, while the pro-Zuma trade union confederation COSATU accused Lekota of attempting a "publicity stunt."
Lekota, a former ANC chairman, is one of the 10 cabinet ministers and deputy ministers who quit after Mbeki was ordered by the ANC to step down as president over a court's insinuation that he had a hand in the decision to prosecute Zuma for corruption.
ANC deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe succeeded Mbeki as caretaker president until general elections slated for April or May. After the elections Zuma is expected to become head of state.
Assuring he had support from ANC members in all nine provinces, Lekota said the dissidents would hold a convention in the coming weeks to consult with people within and outside the ANC on "how to proceed to defend democracy in this country."
The ANC has been split into Zuma and Mbeki factions since Mbeki fired Zuma as deputy president in 2005 on suspicion of corruption. Zuma rebounded to trounce Mbeki in an ANC leadership vote in 2007 and then bury him as president.
Lekota denied Mbeki's ouster was the catalyst for the new faction.
He said he was more troubled by the tribalism of Zuma's Zulu youth supporters - evident in t-shirts they wear vaunting Zuma as a "100% Zulu boy".
"From its foundation, ANC leaders declared that tribalism is the most serious danger to our country and our people. Yet no condemnation (from party leaders), no action to stop it."
Lekota also lashed out at the ANC Youth League, whose leader vowed to "kill" for Zuma and at the ANC for demanding a "political solution" to Zuma's legal woes.
Zuma has been twice charged with corruption in connection with a 1990 state arms deal. The charges were twice thrown out on a technicality but the state has vowed to appeal.
"What has happened to the clause in the Freedom Charter (ANC's constitution) that all shall be equal before the law," Lekota demanded.
Analysts say the splinter group is unlikely to do much harm to the ANC, at least not in this election.
The party of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has a more-than-two-thirds majority in parliament and still enjoys huge loyalty among black South Africans.
The new group also comprises no real heavyweights. Lekota's blind loyalty to Mbeki in the past has eroded his credibility. Most of the other members of his movement are former deputy ministers or provincial politicians.
"It's an interesting development but I don't think it's going to challenge the ANC," political analyst Steven Friedman said.
