Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

S. Africa's Ruling Party Splits

Historic convention heralds birth of new party

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 3, 2008 9:22 AM CST
Email

(Newser) – The African National Congress has run South Africa essentially unchallenged since the fall of apartheid, but that may have changed forever this weekend as 6,400 delegates gathered to celebrate the birth of a new opposition party. A chunk of lawmakers loyal to Thabo Mbeki is breaking way from the ANC, forming a party with the potential to break the stranglehold, the New York Times reports.

It’s unclear how many will join the new party—one report has 100 sitting lawmakers jumping ship—but South African media covered the convention like a major historical event, flashing headlines like “Hungry for change.” Opposition parties of all stripes came onstage to bash the ruling clan, hinting at a potential anti-ANC coalition. But ANC President Jacob Zuma says he’s unconcerned. “The wealthy gathered yesterday at their fancy convention,” he scoffed. “There’s not much they said.”

Delegates sing and dance at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008.
Delegates sing and dance at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008.   (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
Delegates gather at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg Saturday Nov. 1, 2008.
Delegates gather at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg Saturday Nov. 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
South Africa's former Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota listens at a Convention in Johannesburg Saturday Nov. 1, 2008.
South Africa's former Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota listens at a Convention in Johannesburg Saturday Nov. 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

The battle lines are drawn
Independent (South Africa)

New party registers, gets a name
Reuters

Editorial: Political competition a good thing
Times (South Africa)

 
South Africa • Thabo Mbeki • opposition alliance • Jacob Zuma • African National Congress

More Newser Stories

Zulus Urged to Switch to Fake Fur

Michelle Obama, Girls Visit Nelson Mandela

Zuma Sues Newspaper for $730K Over Rape Cartoon

Zuma Sex Scandal Spices up World Cup

Zuma Scrambles to Defuse Racial Tensions
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne