SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa's African National Congress party celebrates its 95th birthday

South Africa's African National Congress marked its 95th year with a unity celebration on Saturday (January 13) and an assurance from President Thabo Mbeki that the alliance at the party's core is firmly intact. Mbeki, who heads the ANC, has been fiercely criticised in recent months by leaders of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SAPC), who are disenchanted with his leadership and economic policies. The ANC has also been rocked by the sacking of former Deputy President Jacob Zuma over corruption allegations with some suggesting Mbeki fired the charismatic party stalwart to block his presidential ambitions. The growing friction has led to speculation COSATU and the SACP might leave the governing alliance that has ruled South Africa since the end of the apartheid era in 1994. Such a move this year would be particularly destabilising for the country because the party is due to pick new leadership. But on Saturday, ANC members said they were committed to the ruling party. Zuma and Mbeki danced on stage to gospel music in a rare show of unity between the two men at the heart of party tensions. Mbeki told the thousands of cheering ANC supporters at the anniversary rally in Witbank, 130 km (80 miles) northeast of Johannesburg, the alliance was strong. And he paid tribute to 95 years of the ANC, "We also salute the millions of our brother and sisters throughout the African continent and say that the African National Congress remained their friend and ally. In particular we want to congratulate again the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and extend our best wishes to the people of Somalia." The party's roots go back to January 1912 when it was formed as the South African Native National Congress in response to legislation denying political rights to the black population. It changed its name to the African National Congress in 1923. The ANC will select a new leader at a December congress. Its electoral stranglehold virtually ensures that the party leader will become South Africa's president when Mbeki steps down in 2009. Mbeki cannot run for a third term as president, but he can run again for the party leadership, and diehard supporters want him to retain that kingmaker's role.

ITN Source | January 14, 2007

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