South African new party Agang to challenge ANC

{{A new political party has been launched in South Africa to challenge President Jacob Zuma’s African National Congress.}}

Agang, which means “Build”, has made tackling corruption and improving education two of its main goals.

Its leader, Mamphela Ramphele, told supporters in Pretoria the ANC could not be trusted to run the economy.

Ms Ramphele is a former World Bank managing director and was the partner of murdered anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko.

Ahead of Saturday’s launch, retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu described her as a brave and principled leader and said the graciousness of South African politics in the 1990s had largely been surrendered at the altar of power and wealth.

“Few thinking South Africans would not welcome the entry into South African politics of someone of the calibre, background, intellect and resourcefulness of Mamphela Ramphele,” he said in a statement.

the ANC is regularly accused of poor governance and failing to deliver basic services such as housing, water and jobs.

Agang’s stated aim, she says, is to galvanise South Africans to build on the democratic foundations left by former President Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid leaders – a legacy which some believe is being squandered by the ANC.

However, loyalty to the ANC among South African voters runs deep, our correspondent adds.