After weeks of speculation, the ANC breakaway group headed by its former Chairperson Terror Lekota announced on Saturday that it would launch a party it believes will trounce the ANC in next year's elections.

"I stand here today on behalf of this preparatory committee to say not only do we intend to tackle it (the ANC), we intend to win the next election," said co-leader and former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa.

The group, which includes former defence deputy Mluleki George, will decide on a name on Sunday.

Name suggestions

After the convention closed, delegates from around the country broke into provincial groups to put forward suggestions for a new name, holding up pieces of paper or shouting out suggestions while their comrades gave the suggestions the thumbs up or down.

The party has enjoyed a comfortable two thirds majority in Parliament since it came to power in 1994 and this is regarded as the party's first major challenge since then.

"We are not going to contest with the ANC, fishing in that small pond," said Shilowa.

"The contest is not for the 600 000 members that were in the ANC before we resigned. The contest is the 22-million voters in South Africa."

Opposition political parties affirmed support for the convention movement and its commitment to defending the constitution.

Ahead of the convention the ANC had said it welcomed new parties, but objected to the use of the term SA National Convention (SANC) to describe the movement.

It has taken this matter to the Pretoria High court and expects to hear more on Thursday.

Provincial representatives will put their suggestions for the new party's name to an interim committee on Sunday morning.

No-brand name

"By then each province must have discussed, what do you think our son or daughter should be called, we can't be a no-brand name we need to have colours, we need to have symbols so that we can be known," said Shilowa.

After years of tension over rivalry between former President Thabo Mbeki and ANC President Jacob Zuma, the movement first gained momentum when long time ANC stalwart Terror Lekota said on radio that he was worried about the direction that the ANC was taking in its support for Zuma before he had his corruption charges set aside.

Accompanied by George, the two were subsequently suspended from the ANC, setting off weeks of bickering which finally led to Lekota's resignation from the party on Friday.

They have since been joined by former Congress of SA Trade Unions President Willie Madisha and communications department director general Lyndall Shope-Mafole, among others.

Lekota, who was booed at the ANC's elective conference in Limpopo last year for criticising songs people sang and t-shirts worn by Zuma supporters had questioned why it was not acceptable to speak out about these issues. But since he has gone public with these grievances, he has been accused by the party of not allowing free speech at meetings while still in leadership.

Kill for Zuma

Most speakers at Saturday's convention honed in on the remarks of ANC Youth League President Julius Malema who was criticized for saying he would kill for Zuma.and that politicial developments were showing a tendency to disrespect elders.

Delegates sang and dances between presentations, at one point being asked by Shilowa to go easy on the "stomping" as the floor of the Sandton Convention Centre may not cope.

Late on Saturday night, delegates were still in the hall, putting forward their suggestions for the name.

A declaration of resolutions adopted earlier included respect for the rule of law and the Constitition and freedom of political choice.

Zuma is expected to react to the convention when he addresses an ANC rally in Jabulani, Soweto, on Sunday morning.

There was tight security at the conference, but there was no attempt by any ANC supporters to disrupt the meeting.

Sapa