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The Congress of the People unequivocally distances itself from the candidacy of Mr Preddy Mothopeng, the self-styled COPE mayoral candidate for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and without reservation condemns his actions.

The Congress National Committee (CNC), at the recommendation of relevant regional and provincial structures, is the only duly authorised body in terms of the party's constitution that can pronounce on the party's mayoral candidates for metropolitan municipalities and large urban areas.

Accordingly, once such nominations have been finalised by the national leadership they will be made public by the CNC at a formally organised event, in line with COPE's clarion call for direct election of mayors, premiers and the President of the Republic and in support of direct accountability, accessibility and transparency.

COPE therefore condemns the actions of Mothopeng, which have not only showed a wholesale disregard for the party's constitutional processes and structures, but have also led to public statements that are in direct violation of and contrary to the spirit of COPE's founding vision and principles.

As a modern and progressive political alternative, COPE condemns in the strongest possible terms the invocation of religion and religious imagery in party political conduct and fervently defends the private and personal nature of matters of religious conviction along with the formal separation of the state and religion more broadly. Therefore the party unequivocally apologises to all South Africans for the offensive remarks made by Mothopeng that defile our commitment and founding principles.

COPE yet again reaffirms its commitment to its founding values and in particular the unwavering emphasis on principled and disciplined conduct by its members and those associated with it at all times.

The national leadership of the party, in consultation with the Gauteng Task Team chairperson Mr Willy Madisha, vows to take the necessary disciplinary action against any and all individuals who act outside party structures and processes, illegitimately portray themselves as representatives of the party, and act in a manner contrary to the values of the organisation and South Africa's constitutional democracy in general.