Johannesburg - A breakaway group of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) said Saturday evening that it aims to launch a new political party in Bloemfontein in December.

Former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa made the announcement at the conclusion of the ANC breakaway congress in Johannesburg, during which speakers accused the former liberation movement of reviving the "terrible legacy" of apartheid.

Washington  - Addressing a 4,500-strong convention in Johannesburg, the leader of a group of breakaway members of South Africa's ruling African National Congress accused the former liberation movement of reviving the "terrible legacy" of apartheid.

Johannesburg - South Africa was gearing up Friday for a radical shake-up in the country's political landscape as a split in the ruling African National Congress (ANC), the party of liberation from apartheid, came within days of fruition.

ANC members and former members who disagree with the direction the party is taking under current leader Jacob Zuma began arriving in Johannesburg Friday from across the country for a weekend convention that will lay the foundations for a new party.

Pretoria  - South African security forces will have six extra helicopters at their disposal for the 2010 World Cup in the country, Nathi Mthethwa, the Minister of Safety and Security confirmed Thursday.

Two helicopters have already been purchased while a further four will be delivered by the end of the year.

"The security preparations and equipping of the police for the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup are progressing well," said Mthethwa.

Johannesburg - A South African soldier was killed and another seriously injured in an attack by gunmen on their unit in the conflict-hit western Sudanese province of Darfur, the South African defence department said Thursday.

The troops were about 3 kilometres from their base at Kutum in the north of the province on Wednesday when unknown gunmen approached them at a water point and opened fire, defence forces spokesman Brigadier General Kwena Mangope told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa in Johannesburg.

Johannesburg - The number of deaths from a new Lassa-type virus has risen to four in South Africa, doctors confirmed to state radio Wednesday.