Divide over good earth

But the march was not just about poverty. It became an occasion to vent any kind of ire — even Palestine. Dem-onstrators carried banners and wore

T-shirts with messages from ‘‘Factory Gases and Waste are Killing” and ‘‘Hands Off Iraq’’ to ‘‘Stop Mbeki’s AIDS genocide’’ and ‘‘Blair don’t beat about the Bush’’. International civil groups found themselves caught in domestic politics and had to make a choice between two marches.

A group of South African Coalition of NGOs decided to break away at the last minute from the main march saying it had been hijacked by ruling party ANC. As a mark of protest, they began their march two kilometres away from Alexandra stadium. The ANC had to actually cover posters with the party logo and clarify that it was only supporting the coalition.

‘‘It is incorrect to say just because we are in the government, we cannot ask for clean water, energy and jobs. Then they will turn around and say we are the party of the elite,’’ said Mbhazima Shilowa, premier of the Gauteng province, and ANC chairperson.

From a party that led from the front, it’s ironic to see a lukewarm response to their rally from disillusioned locals. President Mbeki was expected to address the gathering later in the day.