The Congress of the People (Cope) on Sunday said it was not intimidated by the ruling party’s mass campaign in Bloemfontein.
”We don’t care. They can continue,” Cope spokesperson Phillip Dexter said.
ANC president Jacob Zuma was expected to address supporters at a rally at Bloemfontein’s Seiso Ramabodu stadium on Tuesday.
Dexter said this rally did not bother Cope and that this weekend Cope would name their leadership for the 2009 election.
Hundreds of delegates converged on the University of the Free State (UFS) ahead of the conference on Sunday.
Wearing bright yellow T-shirts reading ”A new Hope for Change”, the delegates were seen singing and dancing on the campus.
Journalists and photographers from around the world were also busy setting up equipment.
Cope secretary general Charlotte Lobe said 3 400 people had registered for the conference.
”It is going very well,” she said.
Free State police spokesperson Superintendent Motantsi Makhele said there had been no reports of intimidation or violence.
”We hope it will continue to run smoothly.”
He said dozens of officers were deployed to strategic points of the institution to ensure a ”safe” event.
Nomonde Mahajana, a delegate from the North West, said she wanted a party that would ”do for the people” and not make false promises.
”We are tired of the ANC. We want change and protection. The ANC just makes money and they don’t protect our people.”
Esme Moetsi, a councillor from Kimberley, said she defected to Cope because ”the ANC works for the ANC and not the people”.
She said she worked for the ANC for five years and was never paid.
Intimidation
The interim leadership of Cope said on Saturday that the ANC had instilled fear in communities, threatening people to refrain from supporting the breakaway party.
”There are many men and women in government who support Cope, but they are terrified to even walk around in this hotel,” Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota told reporters, referring to the three-star President Hotel in central Bloemfontein.
”[Some supporters] are scared to be seen around me because it leads to their imminent departure [from their positions],” Cope deputy leader Mbhazima Shilowa added.
Lekota said the situation reminds him of the fear that people lived with during apartheid.
”You couldn’t even mention the name of Mandela and your parents will say you can’t.”
Lekota also warned that the media would come under pressure from the ruling party in the near future.