COPE leadership is collectively united and is resolute on the need to preserve, protect and enhance our party's position in the political arena of South Africa.

What transpired at the COPE December 16 Congress last weekend are a clear sign of how power "hyenas", even in COPE, continue to eat away at the core of the party structures for their own avaricious reasons.

Only power hungry bullies with an uncontrollable streak to usurp power before their time behave like this. It is a highly seditious breakaway and a betrayal of what genuine COPE supporters stand for. Power by stealth is treacherous, subversive and tantamount to a mutiny.

I do not have to be a Lekota supporter to oppose what Shilowa and company are doing. They are reckless, thoughtless and irresponsible. To gather a group of blind followers blinded by wanton rage that hastily disregards what the rest of the organization stands for, only to create your own group of "yes men and women" is foolishness of the highest order.

The party went through complicated court cases the whole of 2010, fighting one man -Shilowa. In all cases, he lost all eight court cases, with costs. The same man continues to be a beast of havoc at the most important meeting of them all, the Congress of the party. Shilowa continues to go against the grain of a leader able to work with the collective or the structures that he himself has been party to in setting up leading to the Congress, together with all his henchmen and women.

The opportunity to prove he is genuinely honourable or respectable was dispelled by his unrepentant, insatiable desire to repair his dented image. Claims against Shilowa's financial impropriety are have gained traction in the independent processes of inquiry, both internal and through processes such as the forensic audit and the subsequent decision by the Hawks to investigate these charges.

There is no way an acclaimed organization like KPMG can be faulted on their findings which have led to the disciplinary hearing of Shilowa and company. Numerous prima facie allegations of irregularities bordering on criminal behaviour were unearthed by the forensic investigation of KPMG. The man lied to fellow party members, the party and parliamentary structures and avoided the opportunity to answer for himself during the forensic investigation.

Days leading to the Congress, during his disciplinary hearing, he ran away at the slightest chance he could get, because the noose was getting tight on his neck, hence the rush to be elected "unopposed". Whey didn't he give opportunity to others who would have wanted to run for presidency? It is clear he wants powers to extricate himself from possible criminal indictment.

Personally I think the party has been generally lenient with him and they are paying the price. I think the party should now judge him harshly, together with his henchmen and women who believe it was a witch-hunt for power from Mr. Mosiuoa Lekota.

Common sense tells you, it simply is not up to Shilowa to collapse the party, nor will it take any one individual for that matter. There are procedures and systems to be followed.

All of us are deployees of the party from the first Bloemfontein Congress, and subsequent 2009 elections which saw the party come third overall in the politics of the country. To Mr Shilowa, I would like to say: Together with your sorry sympathizers, I think it is time to part ways. Why do you need to cling on to a name you helped destroy? Start something new for yourself. We are not going to leave COPE until you leave. You have proved you are the rotten apple in the basket. If you cannot be led, or lead with others, you surely cannot lead anyone.

Several members have tried to advise him and alert him to his cravings for selfish power, and he would not listen. But, I'm afraid that day has come to let him go.

We can go to court to contest the legality of his illegitimate election, but like a repetitive record, we have seen this before and already know the outcome.

In the last policy conference, he dress-rehearsed the same actions and elected himself to party "president" which decision was overturned in court with costs.

By way of examples, when Jacob Zuma was seen to be a liability to the image of the ANC, he was courteously "relieved" by President Mbeki from his leadership position. When Holomisa began to behave like a delinquent child, he was dropped by Nelson Mandela. Maybe Shilowa thinks he is a greater man distinct from these contemptible figures who fell by the wayside.

We have news for Shilowa - prepare to exit the game of politics according to COPE. You are not fit for purpose - nothing personal - only hyenas can fathom your impertinence: sometimes you cannot tell whether they are laughing or struggling to say something funny. This time it is the latter. It is not funny anymore.

The current leadership still has a mandate to continue leading, whether he likes them or not. For as long as a legitimate and credible elective Congress to dissolve COPE has not taken place, the party will exist in Parliament for five years.

Like the African saying goes: A civet cat defends itself by farting. Such is what Shilowa has done. It is indefensible and stinks like hell! No-one wants to be around such a person. I certainly don't.

By Hon Mr. Dennis Bloem, COPE, writing in his personal capacity.

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