A prominent Indian-origin former anti-apartheid activist in South Africa [Images], Fatima Meer has broken ranks with the ruling ANC to join its breakaway Congress of the People (COP).

Meer, 80, recently triggered a major debate when she called for the revival of the Natal Indian Congress, started by Mahatma Gandhi [Images] in 1894, besides that of the South African Indian Congress.

"I am now throwing my lot with the Congress of the People. I have lost faith and confidence with the ANC," she told the media at a joint press conference with one of the COP leaders Mosioua Lekota here.

Lekota, former Minister of Defence, said he was "very happy" that Professor Meer had joined the new party, which is looking forward to work with her.

Meer, along with her late husband Ismail Chota Meer, has been one of the most dedicated and committed activists of the ANC during the struggle against the former apartheid regime.

She has also written several books about the socio-economic situation in South Africa, including a biography of Nelson Mandela and a book on Indian South Africans.

Besides, she also wrote the script for a movie on Mahatma Gandhi's struggles in South Africa before he left the country to fight for the independence of India.

She was banned, house-arrested, detained and even denied her passport by the former regime because of her activities.

She has since 1994 been bestowed with a number of awards for her contributions to the freedom struggle. The Gujarat government and also the Indian Government have recoginised her for her anti-apartheid work in South Africa.

This past week, Meer received an award from the South African Indian Academy for her contributions to the social, arts and literary fields.

Meer's move came hours after former chief spokesperson for the ANC, Smuts Ngonyama, announced his resignation from the party to join the COP.

The latest developments follow the resignations of scores of ANC leaders and members in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and the Free State provinces and their subsequent alignment with the COP.

The COP will be launched as a party on December 16.

Lekota and his co-leader, Mbhazima Shilowa, former Premier of the economically-rich Gauteng Province, have made it clear that they are determined to give the ruling ANC a serious challenge during the general elections early next year.

Shilowa, Mbhazima and other leaders resigned from the Government after the ANC sacked President Thabo Mbeki in September.

Mbeki has not yet reacted to the emergence of the new breakaway party but many of the officials in the current ANC leadership have accused Mbeki of secretly supporting the Lekota-Shilowa group.

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