ANC leader Jacob Zuma appealed for unity on Saturday after a leadership battle that exposed deep divides in South Africa's ruling coalition and vowed serious action against anyone trying to undermine the party.
In his first public address to the African National Congress on its 96th anniversary, Zuma called for smooth working relations with the government of his fierce rival, President Thabo Mbeki but also issued a stern warning.
"ANC members outside government will not be allowed to undermine those in the government. Those deployed in government cannot undermine the ANC. Should this happen, we will take very serious action," Zuma told thousands of supporters.
Zuma supporters have accused Mbeki's backers of mounting a political campaign to undermine him.
The ANC has said Zuma remains its candidate for president of the country in 2009, despite corruption charges laid against him eight days after he defeated Mbeki to become ANC leader. Zuma said unity in the party, which has ruled South Africa since apartheid ended in 1994, had been placed under great strain in the past few months and years.
"We concede that the contestation of leadership positions, an important and necessary part of our democratic processes, served at times to fuel a perception of discord within our ranks," he said.
He said unity was key and the ANC would continue to draw on the expertise of Mbeki and his allies as it attempts to reduce poverty and unemployment in South Africa. "The hard work ... begins today, and it must be done by all of us, as one united ANC."
Thousands of ANC supporters, many wearing Zuma T-shirts, cheered his speech and earlier sang his trademark anti-apartheid guerrilla song "Bring me my machine gun" when he arrived. Zuma did not mention the corruption charges he faces.
The prospect that he could be embroiled in a lengthy trial that may overlap with the 2009 general election has fuelled concerns about the potential for political stability in Africa's largest economy.
If he is not jailed, Zuma is all but certain to become South Africa's next leader, given the ANC's grip on power. Zuma, 65, has said he would only step down if a court finds him guilty. He has proven resilient in the face of controversy, making a political comeback despite earlier corruption charges and a rape trial in which he was acquitted.
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