COPE DELIGHTED AT THE DECISION OF SOUTH GAUTENG HIGH COURT TO STOP LEKOTA'S UNILATERAL MOVE
The leadership of the Congress of the People welcomes watershed judgment delivered by Judge Van Oosten of the South Gauteng High Court interdicting a planned exclusive elective congress by Mosiuoa Lekota.
Since obtaining a questionable urgent interim interdict in February last year against president Mbhazima Shilowa, Lekota has purported to act as a leader of the party and has since attempted to implement a string of actions aimed at hijacking the party.
This mornings the SGHC added its voice to a number of similar judgments that have effectively declared the leadership confusion emanating from the dubious February 2011 as Lekota is not a leader of COPE and the leadership matter be finalised. Although we defeated Lekota in a forum he dictated to us, we believe only COPE members must choose through an inclusive democratic process. We therefore call on members of Cope to join the call for an all inclusive National Elective Congress of the Cope before End of December 2012.
The SGHC decision confirmed our firm view that the courts are not the platform to determine leadership of political parties but their primary shareholders, the members.
Taking advantage of this judgment, we call on all members and leaders of Cope across the breadth and length of the country to allow the Congress of the People to rise again. This judgment provide a firm foundation for the members of Cope to find a common solution to the current impasse.
We must without delay, bring together all members of Cope under one roof and allow them to chart a solution and prepare for their organisation to play a meaningful role in the politics of this country.
It is in this context that we warmly welcome this judgment as a judgment for the Congress of the People.
We are aware of the intention of those whose work is to sell Cope to the higher bidder (DA) who would have done all possible to convene and underground and private, would not stop as they are anticipating approach the Constitutional Court. This act of desperation serves nothing else either than the interests of their masters.
Cope members must reject this attempt and join hands and continue to loudly make the call for an all inclusive National Elective Congress under the supervision of an Independent Body. None of the groups on Cope should be entrusted with convening or supervising such an inclusive congress. We invite Lekota table which we shall elaborate the route towards an inclusive congress before the end of 2012.
Statement issued by Zale Madonsela MPL, COPE (Shilowa) Deputy President, September 21 2012
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