The battle for the hearts and minds of South African voters moved into full swing this weekend as major political parties unleashed their big guns across the country to woo voters ahead of the April 22 general election.

In a dramatic weekend of spirited electioneering, the Congress of the People yesterday paraded former businessman and long-time ANC heavyweight Saki Macozoma at a party rally in Port Elizabeth, where its presidential candidate, Mvume Dandala, was also unveiled to supporters.

A COPE spokesman, Sipho Ngwema, also revealed that former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka had finally joined his party’s ranks.

“I can confirm to you that she has joined COPE,” said Ngwema.

The party is also expected to announce Limpopo premier Sello Moloto as its candidate for the premiership of the province on Monday.

As COPE welcomed Macozoma and Mlambo-Ngcuka — its biggest catch yet — into its fold, the ANC also went on the offensive as it announced the defection of about 300 COPE members in Klerksdorp, North West.

The defectors accused COPE of being riddled with “factionalism, infighting and undemocratic practices”.

The 300 members, led by COPE’s provincial organiser Lucky Ntshiye, were welcomed back by the ANC’s self-described “rapid-response team” headed by the party’s campaign manager, Fikile Mbalula, MP Lumka Yengeni and safety and security minister Nathi Mthethwa.

Ahead of the Independent Electoral Commission’s deadline for the submission of candidates, the ANC released its full list, headed by party president Jacob Zuma, this week.

COPE released its premiership candidates in Johannesburg yesterday.

The DA said it would unveil its Western Cape premiership candidate in Cape Town today.

Political analysts have speculated that Cope, the DA and the Independent Democrats might win a combined majority in the Western Cape and be able to form a coalition to oust the ANC.

COPE spokesman Phillip Dexter said: “We’ve got a national footprint so we’ve got to do everything. We want to win this election. That’s our strategy. We’re not looking at coalitions now. Once the results are in, that’s when we’ll think and look at coalitions.”

All registered parties are expected to submit their candidates’ lists to the IEC by 5pm tomorrow.

Launching her party’s Western Cape election campaign in Cape Town yesterday, DA leader Hellen Zille accused the ANC of corruption. “We know the ANC brings corruption into government. And corrupt leaders make poor people poorer,” she said.

Macozoma told the Sunday Times yesterday: “I am joining as a citizen because I believe it is time for change in the politics of SA. The idea of a liberation movement that is the sole and authentic political vehicle for the national democratic revolution and the aspirations of the people of SA no longer holds water.”

Macozoma said he had no leadership ambitions in COPE because of “my business commitments and the various positions I hold in several business organisations”.

“Business is where my public life is and will be in the foreseeable future. However, I intend to do my civic duty and support my new political home in any way that I can,” he said.

Macozoma said he was encouraged by the calibre of COPE’s candidates.

COPE’s campaign is, however, likely to be affected by leadership tensions as it still grappling with whether the face of Dandala or party president Mosiuoa Lekota should be on the ballot papers and election posters.

COPE’s general secretary, Charlotte Lobe, said the current understanding was that Lekota would be the face of the campaign everywhere. “In the context of that decision, by implication he will be on the ballot paper.”

But a party insider said the party’s national committee would discuss the matter again and was likely to replace Lekota with Dandala — a move expected to enrage Lekota further. Lekota unsuccessfully tried to resist the appointment of Dandala.

COPE insiders said the ballot issue needed to be handled with care.

“He (Lekota) can be rough, so this will be discussed with him,” he said.

Another national committee member said: “If he is angry he can destroy anything. He (would have) brought COPE to the brink of collapse had he not been managed properly over Dandala.”

Senior COPE members were yesterday attending a secret meeting in Gauteng where Lekota’s future was being discussed.

However, an influential party member denied there was a plot to oust Lekota.

“There is no plot to oust Lekota but he and his supporters are arguing that he should be the face on the ballot paper for COPE, not Dandala. It is an outrageous idea for a party that says it wants leaders to be directly elected. That is what Lekota is being opposed on.”

The ANC campaign moved to KwaZulu-Natal where it aims to weaken the IFP in its rural strongholds. Today Zuma will be campaigning in Durban’s Indian communities, which are seen as a swing vote.

In Empangeni’s ANC-dominated Esikhawini township, IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi and the party’s KwaZulu-Natal premiership candidate, Zanele Magwaza-Msibi, addressed their own rally.

Friday saw the ANC KwaZulu-Natal premiership candidate, Zweli Mkhize, accompanied by ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, lead a 200-car convoy through volatile Nongoma, scene of vicious clashes last month.

On Friday the ANC and the DA launched the first TV political campaign advertisements in South Africa’s post-’94 history.

Other political parties are also expected to launch their television campaigns soon.

Meanwhile, Monica Laganparsad reports that Sanjay Dutt, the Bollywood star due to share the stage with Zuma at an election rally in Chatsworth today, has pulled out at the last minute.