"Sorry ANC, Jesus has come unexpected", quipped a poster held aloft by delegates rocking the floors of the Sandton Convention Centre as they sang and danced during their lunch break.

The poster was referring to a remark recently made by ANC president Jacob Zuma that the party would rule until the return of Jesus Christ.

Delegates at the convention, attended mainly by disgruntled ANC supporters who believe the party is moving away from its founding principles, were earlier urged to be careful about what they sang after the convention's convenors criticized some of the songs belted out thunderously at ANC events.

Throaty new compositions

Their gatherings, and speeches by Zuma are usually marked a loud rendition of "Awulethu mshini wami" (where is my machine gun) for which the party has been criticized. At this meeting it was markedly absent and the piped music that is normally heard in the affluent shopping district, was replaced by throaty new compositions for the occasion.

"We are getting there," and "Terror is coming" were among the songs sang at the convention that may lead to a new political party following former ANC Chairperson Lekota's call for dialogue on developments surrounding the party's support for Zuma.

"No one is above people's power" said one poster, "We are tired empty of promises" read another.

"This country is for all and we won't lose power," vied with "Malema can't fix my broken table woodwork" in reference to a report on the ANC Youth League president's matric results along with "Julius please go back to study".

When it was announced that Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi could not attend because it is his birthday, delegates stood up and sang happy birthday for him while DA leader Helen Zille looked a little stunned by the loud chants of "Zille, Zille" as she began her speech.

Earlier, a group of Western Cape ANC party breakaways had thanked her for showing her support for the convention.

The group said they were supporting the convention as they were '"fed up of showers [a reference to ANC leader Jacob Zuma's rape trial] and umshini wami.

ANC breakaways from KwaZulu-Natal continued to sing and toyi-toyi outside the Sandton Convention Centre, even after proceedings were underway.

The group, undeterred by calls from an official to go inside the venue — held placards slamming Zuma, who hails from their province.

"Zuma's funeral"

The placards read: 'Who says Jacob Zuma was born to rule South Africa', 'Zuma:, any relation to Lucifer? and 'Zuma you are a dead snake'.

Another man held a box to the ground symbolising a gravestone and on it read: "Zuma's funeral".

The convention did not have usual t-shirts and other memorabilia on sale as the organisers did not have enough time to arrange for this.

Sapa