After weeks of bickering and tension between the African National Congress and a breakaway group unhappy with the direction the party is moving, the South African National Convention finally got off to an emotional start in Sandton on Saturday.
However, the national convention would finish on Saturday night, and would not continue on Sunday, an organiser said just after 5pm.
Phillip Dexter said there was a problem with accommodation for delegates, because so many more had arrived than expected.
This had created a ”massive logistical crisis”.
He said resolutions and a convention declaration, which were to have been adopted on Sunday morning, would instead be dealt with on Saturday night.
It was hoped to finish by 9pm, he said.
After a morning of cautious singing and dancing, by Saturday afternoon the approximately 5 000 people were in full voice, with one carrying a placard that read: ”Sorry ANC, but Jesus has come unexpected,” referring to ANC president Jacob Zuma’s statement that the party would lead until Jesus Christ returned.
The convention, suggested by Mosiuoa Lekota, who resigned as a long-time senior member of the ANC on Friday, and supported initially by his former defence deputy, Mluleki George, and former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa, has been gathering support since Lekota announced there would be a ”divorce” in the ANC.
Since then, other ANC members have followed.
”The majority of us here gathered are marching out of the ANC — we call on you to do that with enthusiasm, with vigour, with every strength you have in your veins … on December 16 let’s march to Bloemfontein,” said axed Congress of South African Trade Unions president Willie Madisha.
Madisha said workers were being used to undermine the Constitution by allowing themselves to be involved in coups, ”such as dismissing the country’s president and for other wrong political reasons”.
The ”recall” of former president Thabo Mbeki was referred to frequently and delegates sang a thunderous song in tribute to him.
Although there were not many surprises among the delegates, with most having declared their intentions or resigned from the ANC over recent weeks, those seen at the Sandton Convention Centre included former ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama, Nosimo Balindlela, who was recently removed as premier, and Mbeki’s brother, Moeletsi, who brushed off local journalists’ requests for an interview.
Lekota said he was concerned that ”dominant” political interests were abusing power for their own interests.
Receiving a standing ovation, contrary to his reception at the ANC’s elective conference in Limpopo, Lekota said: ”The evolution of politics in our country has communicated an undiluted message that the dominant political forces in our country are no longer interested or committed to leading our country to achieve the eradication of the colonial and apartheid legacy we inherited in 1994.”
The youth were represented by Anele Mda, who will head an interim youth structure.
Opposition parties supported the convention, with the official opposition Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille looking slightly startled by the rousing welcome she was given.
Although most delegates heeded calls not to sing or carry offensive songs and placards, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema was singled out with a placard reading: ”Malema can’t fix my woodwork,” referring to his reported matric results.
Economist Andile Mazwai, businesswoman Hilda Ndude and Unisa vice-chancellor Barney Pityana all supported the objectives of the convention, while provincial delegates backed a potential new party.
”In fact we need new cards with a new name tomorrow,” said a representative from Gauteng.
The country goes to the polls in early 2009. — Sapa