Suspended ANC veteran Terror Lekota, who is expected to launch a breakaway party, has resigned from the ruling party, a spokesperson said on Friday.

"Yes, he has resigned. The ANC accepts his resignation and we wish him well," said ANC spokesperson Brian Sokutu.

Lekota is hosting a National Convention in Johannesburg this weekend to discuss the formation of a new political party by mainly ANC members who say they are disillusioned with their current leadership.

The first group of delegates gathering to register for this weekend's National Convention cautiously said they were just there to listen to what suspended ANC veteran Terror Lekota and others had to say.

"I just want to know what it is all about," said Poppet Mavundla from Bizana in the Eastern Cape, at the registration centre in Sandton on Friday.

"After this conference I will decide what to do," said Mavundla who arrived with a large group who had been bussed in.

Former Midrand town councillor Marilyn Kuczynski said she was representing a group of residents who "don't want to just keep quiet now and moan later."

Lekota and former Gauteng premier Mbazima Shilowa and former deputy defence minister Mluleki George are among those who arranged the Convention, due to start at the Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday.

This came after a prolonged period of tensions over who should lead the ANC and the eventual recall by the party of former president Thabo Mbeki.

They have mostly criticised the way the party handles support for its president Jacob Zuma in his various court appearances related to corruption charges that were set aside in September.

Charles Mgwadleka said he is representing a group of ANC Youth League members in the Freestate who are unhappy with developments and did not support Julius Malema as the league's president.

He and fellow ANCYL member, Tumelo Mokoena said at a meeting last week, 133 out of 171 branches that were attending, suspended their membership of the ANCYL. "He can't think. He doesn't speak on things that affect the youth — unemployment, HIV/Aids," said Mgwadleka.

They believed Malema's election to the post had not been done properly.

Asked whether they were afraid of getting into trouble for attending the convention, Mokoena said: "This is a democratic country."

Labour writer Terry Bell handed out leaflets containing suggestions that he had put together after talking to various unions in his own capacity.

Meanwhile, media registration had begun and registration for delegates would also begin on Friday afternoon and continue through the night at the Parkmore Field and Study Centre in Sandton.

Sapa