The African National Congress was not threatened by the new political party formed by dissidents, its policy committee chairperson Jeff Radebe said on Friday.

"I believe strongly that the base of the ANC is not threatened at all, as you have seen the support in the provinces when president Jacob Zuma visited recently."

Radebe was addressing the media at the launch of the ruling party's campaign inviting the public to submit their suggestions towards its 2009 election manifesto.

He said the ANC was launching the campaign to ask South Africans about the country they wanted to build, the goals they wanted to achieve, and the things that would improve their communities and make their lives better.

"As part of the broad consultative process currently underway as the ANC develops its 2009 election manifesto, the organisation is asking members of the public to submit suggestions to address what they consider to be the main challenges facing the country," said Radebe.

The ANC launched the campaign under the slogan of: "My ANC, My Vision, My Future."

Members of the public were invited to submit their suggestions to the manifesto team by e-mail, SMS or post.

"The team will collate these suggestions into a report to be circulated at the ANC's Manifesto Conference which will be held from 29 November to 1 December," Radebe said.

He said the conference would attended by ANC structures at national, provincial, and regional level, its alliance partners and mass democratic movement formations — the Treatment Action Campaign, church groups and others.

The party would be taking people's suggestions into consideration after the conference and the deadline for submissions was Friday, 12 December, the ANC said. The election manifesto would be released in January 2009.

Submissions may be sent to: manifesto@anc.org.za, by SMS to 41867 or by post to ANC Manifesto Team, PO Box 61884, Marshalltown, 2107.

Sapa