afrol News, 14 October - South Africa's ruling African National Congress party (ANC) has today suspended former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota after he threatened to form a breakaway party.

The latter's move according to political analysts has deepened split in party, which led fight against apartheid regime.

Mr Lekota, who resigned as defence minister last month, threatened last week to form a new party, which could challenge ANC in next year's elections.

He reportedly accused party of deserting its democratic ideals with dismissal of former president Thabo Mbeki, who was then engaged in a long-running power struggle with party leader Jacob Zuma.

Mr Zuma ousted Mr Mbeki as ANC president last December, in a dramatic upset for man who succeeded democracy icon Nelson Mandela as South Africa's second president since end of apartheid in 1994.

Party leaders issued a statement late yesterday noting that Mr Lekota and his former sidekick Mluleki George had been suspended with immediate effect.

ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte, reportedly said today that the two officials would also be hauled before a disciplinary committee, which could take further action.

"National Disciplinary Committee of ANC will call them to a meeting and make a decision," Duarte told local media.

Speaking at a public function earlier today, Mr Zuma is said to have sternly warned that party would "act very decisively to rid movement of factionalism".

"We would like to warn all who intend to join campaign to undermine and divide ANC. We will act very decisively to rid movement of factionalism. History has been extremely unkind to those who break away from ANC," he was quoted as saying.

He reportedly branded Mr Lekota along with his cronies as "dissidents" whose patterns of behaviour are "charlatan."

A statement issued by the party today reads in part, "ANC will take similar action against any other members who have indicated in words or action their intention to establish a party in opposition to ANC."

Mr Lekota, former ANC chairman, has since been mobilising support for splinter group.

He reportedly told local media today that he was yet to be formally informed of his suspension.

"I do not believe it. I want to wait until I get a letter from ANC. Constitution of the ANC says that no member can be punished before brought to a hearing," he said.

For his part, country's new interim president Kgalema Motlanthe, who is also party's deputy leader, has said that no group could pose a serious challenge to ruling party.

"Even if there was a breakaway party, I don't think it could challenge presently ruling ANC," he was quoted as saying.

Talk in South Africa of a split in ANC has been abounding, since its national conference last December when Mr Zuma took over as party leader.

Mr Zuma and his allies in party ordered Mr Mbeki to step down as president on 20 September, following a High court ruling that implied he had interfered in prosecution of corruption charges against party president.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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