New party in South Africa mounts challenge to ANC

Print By CELEAN JACOBSON, Associated Press Writer Celean Jacobson, Associated Press Writer – Tue Dec 16, 4:43 pm ET AP – Supporters of Cope, Congress of the People, react as Mosiuoa Lekota, a former defense minister, and co-founder … BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa – A splinter group of prominent African National Congress politicians launched a new party Tuesday in the first major challenge to the movement since it took power nearly 15 years ago after toppling South Africa's apartheid government.

At dueling rallies Tuesday, the ANC drew its usual star power and crowds. But the opposition politicians gathering across town delivered enough energy and biting rhetoric to worry the nation's long-dominant political force.

Dominated by former ANC officials — though none with the drawing power of current ANC leader Jacob Zuma or party icon Nelson Mandela — the newly formed Congress of the People, or COPE, was not expected to defeat the ANC in general elections next year.

But the ANC was clearly worried there might be enough discontent among voters for the new party to seriously cut into its large parliamentary majority.

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