ANC BANS 'DIVISIVE' POLL T-SHIRTS !
South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has banned delegates from wearing T-shirts backing its rival leadership candidates to a key meeting.
This month's conference will decide who will lead the ANC going into 2009 national elections.
Ex-deputy President Jacob Zuma is ahead of President Thabo Mbeki in the race.
Pro-Zuma T-shirts like "Zuma For President" and "100% JZ" first surfaced during his 2006 rape trial, in which he was acquitted.
The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the leadership contest has been a bitter fight between two political heavyweights for the job that will define the nation.
Mr Zuma is backed by those who want the government to do more to alleviate poverty and criticise Mr Mbeki for being too pro-business.
'100% Zuluboy'
The ANC's National Executive Council (NEC) said the ban was to stop the distribution of material "that is divisive or may promote factionalism".
Mr Mbeki has already served two terms as national president
"Conference participants may, therefore, not wear T-shirts or other clothing featuring any of the candidates for election to the NEC," it said in a statement.
"This prohibition includes official ANC T-shirts produced for past election campaigns."
In October, Defence Minister and ANC chairman Mosiuoa Lekota hit out at T-shirts with the slogan "100% Zuluboy", the nickname Mr Zuma was given after his fallout with Mr Mbeki.
Mr Lekota said the slogans were divisive and tribal.
After his sacking in 2005 on corruption allegations and during the rape trial, Mr Zuma's popularity among people in KwaZulu-Natal remained strong.
The corruption case against Mr Zuma collapsed but prosecutors say they may revive the charges.
He always said the cases against him were political.
On Tuesday, ANC Secretary-General Kgalema Motlanthe admitted there had been vote-buying during the leadership contest.
Mr Mbeki has already served two terms and cannot lead the country again, but if he remained ANC leader he would be in a good position to decide who succeeded him as national leader.
If Mr Zuma wins, he would be favourite to become South Africa's next president in 2009.
He has the support of five provinces as well as the ANC Women's League and Youth League.
Mr Mbeki has the support of four provincial branches.
This month's conference will decide who will lead the ANC going into 2009 national elections.
Ex-deputy President Jacob Zuma is ahead of President Thabo Mbeki in the race.
Pro-Zuma T-shirts like "Zuma For President" and "100% JZ" first surfaced during his 2006 rape trial, in which he was acquitted.
The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the leadership contest has been a bitter fight between two political heavyweights for the job that will define the nation.
Mr Zuma is backed by those who want the government to do more to alleviate poverty and criticise Mr Mbeki for being too pro-business.
'100% Zuluboy'
The ANC's National Executive Council (NEC) said the ban was to stop the distribution of material "that is divisive or may promote factionalism".
Mr Mbeki has already served two terms as national president
"Conference participants may, therefore, not wear T-shirts or other clothing featuring any of the candidates for election to the NEC," it said in a statement.
"This prohibition includes official ANC T-shirts produced for past election campaigns."
In October, Defence Minister and ANC chairman Mosiuoa Lekota hit out at T-shirts with the slogan "100% Zuluboy", the nickname Mr Zuma was given after his fallout with Mr Mbeki.
Mr Lekota said the slogans were divisive and tribal.
After his sacking in 2005 on corruption allegations and during the rape trial, Mr Zuma's popularity among people in KwaZulu-Natal remained strong.
The corruption case against Mr Zuma collapsed but prosecutors say they may revive the charges.
He always said the cases against him were political.
On Tuesday, ANC Secretary-General Kgalema Motlanthe admitted there had been vote-buying during the leadership contest.
Mr Mbeki has already served two terms and cannot lead the country again, but if he remained ANC leader he would be in a good position to decide who succeeded him as national leader.
If Mr Zuma wins, he would be favourite to become South Africa's next president in 2009.
He has the support of five provinces as well as the ANC Women's League and Youth League.
Mr Mbeki has the support of four provincial branches.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
posted by jackaranda at 1:30 pm
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