ANC opposition parties came out in support of the national convention on Saturday praising the initiative as historical and a significant step towards changing the political climate of the country.

Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille was greeted with loud applause as she took to the podium and said the convention would be looked back on and considered a turning point.

She said it was important to fight corruption, take a stand against people who sought political power for gain and against those who threatened to kill in the name in politics.

"Hier toe and nie verder"

"Hier toe and nie verder (Here and no further)," she said.

"The policies of the past are outdated."

Zille reiterated that a multi-party democracy was the way of the future because it championed equality for all people and not just the few.

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille echoed Zille in saying that the convention had the potential to change the political landscape.

She said the day also heralded the breaking down of the African National Congress.

Once proud

"The once proud liberation movement has lost its way. The values, the visions and the ideals of the struggle have been forgotten," she said.

IFP stalwart Lionel Mtshali said he attended the convention on behalf of the party to show support for those who felt that the Constitution was fundamental.

"Those in power serve the Constitution and not themselves. Our Constitution has been betrayed and in many respects obliterated.

"The people of South Africa have been forgotten, our political struggle has been hijacked," he said.

ANC Titanic

African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe brought the gathering to booming laughter when he said those who remained on the ANC 'Titanic' should jump before they sunk.

"We believe this is not the time to sing about machine guns, but time to roll up our sleeves and make South Africa a multi-party democracy."

Meshoe also praised those who had broken away from the ANC for not retaliating when they had been insulted, saying this showed a strong moral foundation and a leadership that did not pay lip service.

"The days of killing political opponents are over, we will not become another Zimbabwe," he said.

Leader of the United Democratic Movement Bantu Holomisa was the last of the political party speakers, but the crowd had lost no enthusiasm and he was given the biggest applause.

Moral support

Holomisa, looking towards splinter group leader Terror Lekota said he had attended the convention to give moral support.

"Morale support to build an alternative and that such an alternative should reflect the breakdown of demographics in the country," he said adding that such an alternative needed to be led by someone who already understood the struggle for democracy.

"Our point of departure should be the recommitment to the principle of improved equality of life of the people of South Africa as a national objective agreed by all parties. The gap between the rich and poor has risen," he said.

Sapa