The groundswell of the Congress of the People (Cope) members who managed to gather in a short time is an indication of the political mood in South Africa, interim chairperson Terror Lekota said on Sunday.

"It tells you where the mood of the people currently is."

The party claims to have amassed 428 000 members since breaking away from the ANC a few months ago.

Speaking to journalists at Cope's inaugural conference in Bloemfontein, Lekota said the membership figures announced last week were "paid-up" members.

He said many come to Cope from other political parties but the formation of the breakaway had given them a reason to join the political formation.

Lekota said the interim Cope leaders were initially "astounded" and "doubtful" on the announced number of members.

Lekota said Cope was also "pleasantly surprised" by the number of white South Africans who have joined and were present at the party's launch.

He said they were bigger (in number) and "more varied" than in any other predominantly black political party in the country.

"It does mean that we have a real chance to establish a political party which can profess that it is non-racial and practice it."

A smiling Lekota said they were not "magicians" and that the growing figure in membership numbers were due to the political situation in the country being "conducive" for Cope.

Sapa