POLITICS

COPE WCape terminates cooperation agreement with DA

Interim CPC accused partner of bully tactics, says it's councillors used to rubber stamp decisions (Jan 13)

2013-01-13

DECISION OF THE INTERIM CPC (CONGRESS PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE) TO TERMINATE THE MUTUAL COOPERATION WHICH EXIST BETWEEN COPE AND THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (DA) IN THE WESTERN CAPE, PERTAINING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS.

The interim CPC had a meeting on the 12 and 13 January 2013 in Cape Town.

The CPC, after interacting and deliberations on the concerns and challenges facing these structures which inter alia relates to:

  • The DA's inability to conclude the agreements of cooperation between the parties
  • Our ability to adequately represent the interests of the most marginalised communities in council is being hampered by the DA's "bully" tactics in council meetings
  • In council meetings our representatives are not acknowledged as fully fledged partners but are merely used to "rubberstamp" the DA's decisions and implement their policies which aims to further their own agenda to the detriment of the community at large
  • COPE councillors are being threatened with removal unless they tow the DA line by voting in a particular manner, e.g. the Deputy Mayor of Langeberg Council and Deputy Mayor of Bitou.
  • Councillors in Bitou being summoned to attend an urgent meeting called by the DA during recess. Scheduled meeting an urgent request was for the meeting to be held on 24 December 2012. This is not in line with local government protocol and the rationale behind this urgent meeting was unclear given that the mayor de facto has the authority to deal with matters during recess. No sufficient reason was provided to COPE's representatives.
  • In the past 19 months there were two strategic sessions held on the 15 June 2012 and 18 October 2012 respectively where decisions were taken with no implementation of any resolutions.
  • It should further be noted that there is an assertive effort to discredit the Provincial Chairperson of COPE in the Western Cape who is working within the Eden District Municipality.
  • Furthermore it has been noted that Theuns Botha is causing havoc in these municipal areas where COPE and DA is co-governing, by undermining decisions of council.

Further note that COPE is a Unitary Organisation and NOT a Federal Organisation, and in view of the aforementioned the CPC resolved to terminate the mutual cooperative agreement which exist between the DA and COPE within the Western Cape.

RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY INTERIM CONGRESS PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE AS INDICATED ABOVE.

Statement issued by Arthur Ketile, COPE Western Cape head of communications, Xolela Mjonondwana, Provincial Secretary and Bernard Joseph, Provincial Treasurer, January 14 2013

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