Dissidents from South Africa's ruling African National Congress opened the most serious rift in the former liberation movement's history yesterday as they inaugurated a breakaway party that will contest elections next year.

The first conference of the Congress of the People (Cope) opened at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein — once an Afrikaner stronghold — with a blistering attack on the party that overthrew apartheid and brought Nelson Mandela to power in 1994.

The interim Cope president, Mosiuoa Lekota, a former Defence Minister and close ally of the ousted President Thabo Mbeki, told 3,500 cheering delegates from all nine of the country's provinces that the ANC was using apartheid-era tactics to intimidate public servants wishing to join the new party.

“Intimidation and paralysing fear is now gripping sections of our society,” Mr Lekota said. “Public servants now talk in whispers when they discuss Cope. They report that they risk their jobs if they are seen to befriend us. Tales of spying on each other, as under apartheid, on who attends Cope meetings, abound.”

He repeated claims that the ANC, beset by corruption allegations that have dented the moral authority it once enjoyed, forced police officers to downgrade charges against its leading members arrested on charges ranging from fraud to drink-driving.

Delegates sang anthems and poked fun at the ANC president, Jacob Zuma, while invoking the names of national heroes such as Mr Mandela and the struggle stalwart Walter Sisulu.

Mr Lekota, nicknamed “Terror” after his prowess on the football field, claimed that the emergence of Cope had already improved South Africa's image abroad.

“What doubts had begun to envelop views on the prospects of South African democracy have now been overtaken by a cautious optimism and fresh confidence,” he said.

Last week the High Court ruled in Cope's favour in a dispute with the ANC over its name, while the fledgeling party took a third of the seats in by-elections in the Western Cape.

Cope leaders, who are all Mbeki loyalists, are certain to adopt a pro-business economic policy to distance the new party from the left-wing unions.

Other policies are likely to include a tough approach on crime — the ANC's Achilles' heel — and promises of better education, health and housing for the poorest, who have seen little benefit from the end of white rule.

Analysts say that the new party is unlikely to dethrone the ANC but could deny it an overall majority.

Cope has made clear it will do deals with other opposition parties to prevent the ANC railroading legislation through Parliament, as it has done in the past.

Mr Lekota, who was imprisoned with Mr Mandela on Robben Island, said many disillusioned South Africans who had moved abroad were “flooding” the country's embassies, preparing to come home to help to end the ANC's monopoly on power.

Jockeying for position

African National Congress Formed in 1912 as a civil rights movement for black South Africans. Banned for 30 years during apartheid era but won a huge majority in first full elections in 1994. Dominent ever since

Democratic Alliance The official Opposition. Attracts a significant white vote. Espouses liberal democracy

Inkatha Freedom Party The third-largest party in the National Assembly. Support comes mainly from Zulus

Congress of the People Formed in October after ANC members ousted Thabo Mbeki

Source: www.southafrica.info

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