The Congress of the People's (Cope's) former head of elections, Simon Grindrod, will not attend a meeting of the party's leadership on Friday, as he had not been invited.

In a statement, Grindrod noted media reports indicating the party leadership wanted him to attend the meeting to explain the concerns he raised about issues plaguing the party.

The congress national committee meeting followed the resignations of the party's second deputy president, Lynda Odendaal, and Grindrod this week.

Grindrod had previously detailed the problems facing the party in a memorandum which was leaked to the media. In it he described the party as racked by "divisions and undemocratic principles".

"I am more than happy to explain and defend the challenges I have identified and stand by them unequivocally.

"However, I believe it is wrong of leadership to create the impression that I have been invited to do so when I have not.

"Any perception that I am not prepared to do so is false and I reject it entirely," Grindrod said on Friday.

As an ordinary member, he said, he would not attend a leadership meeting without an invitation to do so.