SOUTH AFRICA 16 December 2008 ANC plans mass rally after split in party 

South Africa's ruling African National Congress has called for a mass gathering of members in Bloemfontein as a show of strength against ANC rebels who will formally launch a rival party on the same day. The rebels' Congress of the People will compete against the ANC in the country's April election. The ANC is on the warpath: ANC chief Jacob Zuma has called the rebels "snakes." The war could erupt first in the courts. The ANC plans to take legal action against the new party over its name.

The ANC argues that Congress of the People can't be used by the new group because it is associated with the ruling party's Freedom Charter.

The ANC is also countering the new party with a recruitment drive. The dispute marks the most significant split in the country’s ruling party since the end of white minority rule.

The Congress of the People, is made up of ANC members who are upset by the election in Dec 2007 of Jacob Zuma to replace former president Thabo Mbeki as new ANC president. The rebels are also upset by the possibility the ANC could support a political deal to set aside fraud and corruption charges against Zuma.

The court threw out charges against Zuma on a technicality in September, but holes in the case make appeals likely. Zuma could still face trial if state prosecutors are successful in appealing the dismissal of the charges. Nov/08

RELATED READING:
Breakaway ANC group scrambles to find name (Reuters 3 Nov 2008)
http://africa.reuters.com/world/news/usnTRE4A21MF.html

IFP won't rule out coalition with new party (SABC 8 Nov 2008)
http://www.sabcnews.com/politics/elections/0,2172,179571,00.html