South Africa's ruling African National Congress is battling to contain internal rifts over economic policy and leadership posts as Africa's oldest political movement marks its centenary.
The party of the Nobel Peace Prize winners Nelson Mandela and Albert Luthuli has won more than 60 per cent support in every election since the first all-race vote in 1994. That monopoly on power in Africa's largest economy belies mounting instability in the ANC as militant youth groups and labour unions vie for control before party elections in December.
The ANC Youth League leader, Julius Malema, who is fighting his suspension from the party, ridiculed the President, Jacob Zuma, in songs at a provincial party rally last month as the league switched its support to the Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe.