By
Carol Paton 

Thabo Mbeki and his supporters must know they have lost the electoral battle – but they are not going down without a fight.

In what was obviously intended as a show of strength, TM supporters from all provinces held a 1000-strong impromptu rally in the sports stadium adjoining the conference venue today at lunch time, pledging to keep up the fight and keep spirits high. They cut an impressive picture as they toyi-toyied back to the hall in formation singing their rousing anthem, a liberation song praising Thabo Mbeki.

But numbers are sure to be against them: there are more than 4000 delegates, the overwhelming majority of which have already rowdily shown their support for Jacob Zuma. Zuma supporters hastily convened their own rally on the grass outside the venue in response to their opponents. One of the party’s bright young intellects said that the refusal by the leadership of TM caucus to stand down was not so much that they thought they would win but that they had to do it.
”It’s a message to JZ to realize that he is not supported by everyone. They are preparing to be an opposition.”

The ANC’s 52 national conference is now running a day behind schedule with some tricky issues still to traverse before voting can begin. The credentials report – the official record of who may vote – has still not been adopted.

Leadership who spoke to the FM indicated three areas of dispute: in Gauteng where several branches have sent delegates from branches that did not convene the general meetings necessary to mandate them; in the Free State where there has been an on-going legal dispute over the right of certain delegates to represent certain branches; and the ANC Youth League where pro-Mbeki members were routed in the election to choose delegates.

Whether the disputes are substantive or not is immaterial, said another. “Credentials are always a big fight at ANC conferences… and this is no ordinary fight.”