ANC split set to be announced

Split already! Zuma's putting on a brave face but he knows, these people are a viable opposition, especially if they hook up with opposition parties.

He may become el presidente but not in quite the dictatorial style that Mbeki enjoyed. All good, all good for us, all good for the country. Bring on the new partayyyy!!

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Former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota and other ruling ANC officials are expected to announce the formation of a breakaway party, a radio report said on Wednesday.

The officials, loyal to Thabo Mbeki who was forced to resign as president last month by the executive of the African National Congress, would make a statement at 10:00, said Talk Radio 702.

Mbeki's resignation at the climax of a political struggle with ANC leader Jacob Zuma marked the biggest political upheaval in the party's history.

A split is likely to create political uncertainty that would make investors in Africa's biggest economy nervous.

Speculation has been growing about a possible split, despite efforts by new President Kgalema Motlanthe and other ANC leaders to dismiss such talk.

Any new party could be hard pressed to win over voters and funding ahead of an election due in April in a country where politics has been completely dominated by the ANC since the end of apartheid in 1994.

ANC split would be shortlived -Zuma
Update: 10:32am - Lekota stops short of split