Is COPE (Congress of the People) no longer Coping? Fists were thrown at the COPE Press Conference this morning when unidentified individuals who claimed to be COPE leaders refused to allow the president of the party Mosiuoa Lekota to address them.
“We are not going to be led by thieves. How can they be leaders who can’t respect the constitution.” said Takalani Raidani who said was a member of the COPE youth movement”.
This commotion started on Monday, 29 August 2022, during the media briefing that took place. Reports state that “COPE president Mosioua Lekota announced the suspension of deputy Willie Madisha, secretary for communications Dennis Bloem, and secretary for elections, Mzwandile Hleko”.
Earlier Monday, the Madisha, Bloem and Hleko suspended the president of the Cope Lekota citing his role in diving the party.
“The three had earlier in the day announced Lekota’s suspension citing his role in dividing Cope and his frequent meetings convened “to form parallel structures” within the party” said one of the reports released on Monday.
This morning all hell broke loose when members of the party threw fists at each other refusing to listen to what the Lekota had to say to the media, they also accused him for corruption. Lekota denied these accusations and asked if there was any proof that would confirm these accusations.
They also said that he was unfit to continue leading the party and accept his suspension.
“We said to him ‘comrade please, go and stay home, respect the outcomes of the CNC [Congress National Committee] because you’re suspended via the constitution of the party and therefore you have no right to speak on behalf of the party” said Raidani.
Look at how scared he was here. Ntate #Lekota. He must go rest man @Enghumbhini #COPEbriefing #Madisha pic.twitter.com/iTAIZMDPJq
— Kabelo (@Kabelo_K_B) August 31, 2022
Lekota was disappointed on the outcomes of the media briefing and the behavior of the ‘disruptors’.
He also responded to Raidani saying he will serve the Cope up until his term as the president is over.
“I am not going to the grave! I’m sorry but I’m not going to the grave!” he said.
