Backing for Lekota

2008-10-08 23:35

Cape Town - There is enough financial and political backing for Mosiuoa Lekota's rebellion against the ANC to make the establishment of a new party viable.

This emerged from extensive enquiries by Beeld on Wednesday, after another day of political high drama.

Reliable sources said some business leaders - including at least two bigwigs in the mining sector - had already had discussions in Johannesburg with Lekota supporters.

Financial support has been pledged, on condition of a complete breakaway from the main party.

One of the two mining bosses has close family ties with members of former president Thabo Mbeki's cabinet, and the names of various other role-players are also known to Beeld.

Lekota is apparently very serious about the formation of a new party, but might just be an interim leader.

Lekota on Wednesday made strong references to a new party, but stopped short of actually announcing it.

Divorce papers

Although the ANC on Wednesday followed a conciliatory route by way of Mathews Phosa, Lekota's statements that he had "served the divorce papers" and that "it could be the parting of ways" pointed to an imminent split.

The potential defectors believe their strongest support would come from the Eastern and Northern Cape, as well as Gauteng.

It is said that the new party would only be formed on the day the election date was announced, to enable Parliamentarians to join the new party without losing their financial benefits.

According to a source who attended the meeting, the group behind Wednesday's announcement met at the Emperor Hotel outside Johannesburg on Tuesday evening.

Opposition politicians had also been invited to the meeting, which ended in the early morning hours.

Willie Madisha, former Cosatu leader, apparently also attended the meeting, where it was said that quite a number of the labour federation's members had already pledged their support for a new party.

Mandela not involved

It was also claimed that Madisha and others had visited former president Nelson Mandela, who was supportive of the idea.

Speaking on behalf of Mandela, Professor Jakes Gerwel denied the involvement of the former head of state, saying that the claims were "absolutely untrue".

"Madiba has definitely not been contacted and has made no comments in this regard," Gerwel said.

Other well-known people were also reluctant to support Lekota's plan.

From former president Thabo Mbeki's inner circle it was learnt that he was not involved in Lekota's plans as he was resting and felt that the political tide had turned against him.

Ngonyama 'thinking about it'

He is focusing on moving to his retirement home in Johannesburg and will only consider becoming involved in politics at a later stage.

His former deputy, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, is also not part of Lekota's group. She is studying further.

Smuts Ngonyama, former head of the ANC Presidency, said he could not at this stage say whether he would join Lekota's initiative. "I'm still thinking about it."

Western Cape cleric Allan Boesak saw the present developments as an internal conflict and thought the ANC should rather be opposed from outside.

- Beeld