South African opposition parties walked out of a parliament session today, accusing the governing African National Congress (ANC) party of trying to silence critics.

DEFECTORS from South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) yesterday launched their new party, naming former defence minister Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota as leader, shaking up the country’s politics ahead of elections next year.

A BREAKAWAY faction of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress led by a former defence minister was yesterday due to register as a political party, named the South African Democratic Congress, a spokesman said.