Plans for a national convention to discuss the formation of a new political party were on track, co-convenor Mbhazima Shilowa said on Tuesday.

Shilowa, who recently quit as Gauteng premier, said a preparatory committee for the convention was elected at a meeting in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The body included former ANC chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota, Shilowa, former ANC national executive member Charlotte Lobe, former Cosatu president Willie Madisha and Anele Nda, a member of the Youth Commission in the Eastern Cape.

Former ANC Dullah Omar regional secretary in the Western Cape Mbulelo Ncedana was appointed national spokesperson.

A website, www.sanationalconvention.com, was also launched.

Shilowa said eight of the country’s nine provinces sent representatives to the meeting. Only KwaZulu-Natal did not have one.

The meeting dealt with the logistics involved in the convention and decided it would be held between 31 October and 2 November.

The objective was to seek "consensus on a set of values, defend democratic space and concentrate on how to speed up the realisation of second generation rights in our constitution", Shilowa said.

Lekota has said the convention would be held in Bloemfontein on 2 November.

A venue is yet to be announced.

Sapa