Durban: Amid tensions brewing between ruling ANC and its breakaway faction, former South African President Nelson Mandela has made it clear he would not campaign for the the party in next year's general elections, as he had "retired" from active politics.

"Mandela has on several occasions expressed his wish to be allowed to retire fully from public life and more recently not to be drawn into politics," Chairman of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Professor Jakes Gerwel, today said.

"He is a lifelong member of the ANC, an organisation to which he dedicated his life. He has every reason to believe that the leadership of the organisation will respect his wishes, making speculation about his involvement in the election campaign superfluous," Gerwel said.

Amid tensions brewing between supporters of ANC and that of the splinter group, led by former Defence Minister Mosioua Terror Lekota, newly-elected President Kagelma Motlanthe, who replaced Thabo Mbeki, has called on ANC supporters not to interfere or disrupt meetings held by Lekota and his fellow supporters.

"Actions like this give us a very bad image," President Motlanthe told the national SABC news in an interview today.
Source : PTI