South African National Convention Under Way | Voice of America - English
A two-day national convention convened by former leaders of the ruling African National Congress is under way in Johannesburg.
Some 6,000 exuberantand vocal South Africans, most of them traditional supporters of theruling African National Congress, came to the Sandton Convention Centerto register their support for the formation of a new political party. Mosthave already resigned their membership in the ANC, or by theirattendance have ensured that they will be expelled, as promised earlierthis week by ANC President Jacob Zuma. Out on the stump inKwaZulu/Natal Saturday, Zuma said those leaving the party werepoisonous snakes. In welcoming delegates, co-convenor and formerANC chairman, Mosiuoa Lekota said the current leaders of the rulingparty are abusing their power to advance their personal interests andthose of their supporters. "The issue before our nation iswhether we will have, we will put power in the hands of men and women whoare committed to sustaining this constitution or not," he said. "Thatthe issue. If the issue confronting the people of this country mustrather be watered down or sustained, I say the majority of them willvote for a party that seeks to sustain that constitution." Thecatalyst for the breakaway movement was the ousting of former SouthAfrican President Thabo Mbeki by Zuma just months before his term ofoffice ended. The ANC said it had lost confidence in him following acourt ruling in which the judge said the ongoing corruptioninvestigation against Zuma may have been politically motivated. Evenbefore a new party has been formally agreed or a political platformadopted, it is clear the new party will seek to change the currentproportional electoral system and to directly elect the president ofthe country. Barney Pityana, rector of the University of SouthAfrica and former head of the statutory Human Right's Commission, tellsVOA the system no longer meets the needs of the country because thetrust inherent in the system is being betrayed by the current ANCleadership. "The responsibility of the political leaders whom wetrust because we elect them, I guess, is never to betray that trust,"said Pityana. "And part of that trust is based on their real commitmentto the constitution and to enhancing our democracy, not just by wordbut also by deed." "I have said that there are certain developments inthe country that really completely betray that trust in our countrytoday. The first one is a culture of intolerance and violence, violentlanguage and intimidation, that clearly has become in thestock-in-trade of the ANC of our time," he added. Several oppositionparties also sent delegates to the convention - most had encouragingwords for the new movement. Inkatha Freedom Party leader MangosuthuButhelezi, celebrating his 80th birthday in KwaZulu/Natal said ina statement sent to the convention that South Africa's democracy isailing and that the people of South Africa have been forgotten by theAfrican National Congress.