Ex-minister barred for ANC threat

Ex-minister barred for ANC threat
Former South African Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota
Mosiuoa Lekota has been an outspoken critic of ANC leaders

South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has suspended a former minister who had threatened to split the party.

Mosiuoa Lekota resigned as defence minister after Thabo Mbeki stood down as president last month, before calling for the creation of a new party.

He was suspended for disciplinary reasons, party officials said.

The party has been dogged by splits between backers of the former president and the current leader, Jacob Zuma.

Mr Zuma won a bitter contest to replace Mr Mbeki as party leader in 2007.


We live in a democracy, so who does he [Zuma]want to shoot?
Mosiuoa Lekota

Analysts say the move to discipline Mosiuoa Lekota makes an official schism within the ANC more likely.

But any new party is unlikely to be a major power unless it attracts figures with considerable political weight, they add.

No compromise

In a statement, the ANC said it was suspending Mr Lekota with immediate effect.

"The ANC cannot allow its structures to be used for purposes of undermining and betraying the organisation," the statement read.

Thabo Mbeki (file photo)
Thabo Mbeki was seen by critics as aloof and pro-business

"The 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 the ANC," the statement added.

The suspension was announced on Monday after a spokesman for Mr Lekota said the former minister and party officials had failed to work through their differences, the Reuters news agency reported.

At a meeting in Port Elizabeth, Mr Lekota mocked Mr Zuma on Monday, reports Die Burger newspaper.

The ANC rebel imitated the party leader's style of dancing and his frequent singing of the anti-apartheid anthem "Umshini Wami" (Bring Me My Machine-Gun).

"We live in a democracy, so who does he want to shoot?" Mr Lekota asked, the paper reports.

He also said the ANC could not discipline him unless he had the opportunity to defend himself.

Mr Lekota has previously said a split within the ANC was "inevitable", and has described the party's leaders as "arrogant".

He has been an outspoken critic of the new leadership, saying ANC chiefs foster tribalism and glorify violence.

Mr Mbeki stood down after a judge suggested he may have interfered in the prosecution of Mr Zuma on corruption charges.

The former South African leader strongly denies this and has appealed against the judge's ruling.

Mr Lekota was one of several ministers who resigned along with Mr Mbeki.