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Polity
Article by: Sapa Published: 26 May 2010
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| Questions over Cope future surface | |
| Questions over the Congress of the People's (Cope's) immediate future surfaced on Wednesday after a paper outlining a "worse case scenario" lent credence to perceived divisions. The document, penned by Tshwane's Cope chairperson Andries Keun, describes a "plan of action" should the party break up. This includes handling Cope's finances and legal options to retain the party's identity. It was handed by office staff to reporters at Cope House in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The party was seeking to manage the divide between supporters of president Mosiuoa Lekota and his deputy Mbhazima Shilowa. On Wednesday afternoon, Keun confirmed to Sapa that he had drawn up the plan of action. "I am convinced that there are certain people in the organisation who want to tear Cope apart," he said in a telephonic interview. He believed that there were people with ulterior motives. He had drawn up the plan of action to examine different scenarios should these people manage to split the organisation. "I do not want the split, but if the other guys manage to tear the party apart, we need a plan of action." Keun said that those "trying to gain control" of Cope supported Shilowa. Both Shilowa and Lekota were present at Cope House, with the former chairing the leaders' meeting to discuss whether the party's first elective conference would go ahead. The conference was scheduled for the coming weekend, but Lekota supporters from various provinces have insisted that it be postponed. Lekota himself had reportedly backed the bid to halt the conference, saying the party was not ready. Earlier, journalists were invited to a media briefing by Cope spokesperson Phillip Dexter, on Lekota's behalf. On arrival at Cope House however, general secretary Charlotte Lobe said that no media briefing had been called or sanctioned by the party's leadership structure, the Congress National Committee. Journalists then approached Lekota in his office. "The meeting is going on, it is not finished," he said, describing the media presence as an "invasion". The meeting had adjourned for lunch when journalists spoke to Lekota. He sat with his plate before him, flanked by Cope policy head Smuts Ngonyama. Lekota would not be drawn on the meeting or its possible outcome. "I'm not a prophet, I can only tell you what is happening now." Another document handed out by Cope member Sixolise Gcilishe described why Lekota should not be the party's president. In it Gcilishe said that Lekota's media pronouncement on policies was foreign to Cope, as were his relationship with the Democratic Alliance and his resistance to the party's selection for presidential candidate Mvume Dandala in last year's election. Dexter apologised to journalists for the party's failure to hold the briefing. He said that a briefing would be held later on Wednesday once the CNC had concluded its business. |
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