THE CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE (COPE) is pleased to announce its readiness to contest the coming Local Government Elections on 18 May 2011.

The Congress of the People has dealt with its internal differences and united its members behind its leadership led by its President Mosiuoa Lekota it resolved not to tolerate further ill discipline from its ranks. Cope is ready to participate in all municipalities and is confident that it will win these elections because it will present South Africa with a leadership that is committed to serving the people, protecting and preserving public resources and assets, and ensuring with thorough determination that corruption, waste and mismanagement are eradicated.

The Public Representatives of Cope will be required to commit themselves to the Cope's Code of Conduct , the principles of: accountability; good governance and shall be expected to sign a declaration to be accountable to the communities that elected them and to hold a number of briefing and report back meetings annually with the communities that elected them.

The Congress of the People solemnly believes that political power resides with the people permanently and that during elections that power should not be merely surrendered to anyone. The ideal is for the people to exercise their power jointly with the elected representatives after the elections. Cope advances this position because it defines democracy, unlike other political parties, as "a government of the people, by the people, for the people, with the people. Cope advocates an activist state where community activism and participation partnerships will receive structural and legal state support to strengthen communities in getting quality and efficient service delivery.

The Congress of the People will consult widely with communities on the selection of its public representatives and its election platform and will produce a single and inclusive list of its candidature to contest the local government elections.

In two weeks time Cope will hold public meetings to launch its Election Manifesto in all provinces and it has also concluded its process to nominate its mayoral candidates for the Metros and shall announce it after approval by its Congress National Committee (CNC). Cope is also in the process of training its party agents and its candidate selection committees.

The Congress of the People is therefore confident that the people of South Africa shall elect its public representatives because they understand that voting for Cope will fundamentally alter the power relationship between politicians and the electorate and thereby give deeper expression to the RSA constitution.

Statement issued by Ndzipho Kalipa, COPE head of elections, March 23 2011

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