COPE MUST DEFEAT THE CHALLENGE POSED BY INTERDICTED CONGRESS

The National Office Bearers (NOBs) of the Congress of the People met yesterday, 21st September 2012, in a special session to consider the ruling of Judge Van Oosten who, in response to Shilowa and his supporters seeking to interdict the Congress of the People (COPE) from holding its First National Congress, ruled that COPE "is interdicted, with immediate effect, from undertaking preparations for and convening a national elective Congress, pending the commencement of the hearing of the action which has been enrolled for hearing on 1 February 2013".

As mandated by the Congress National Committee (CNC) meeting of 15-16 September 2012, the NOBs took a decision on the course of action that the Party should take bearing in mind, and respecting, the ruling of the Judge as well as the need for the Party to get ready to contest the 2014 general elections. This course of action will be communicated to the public shortly.

COPE views the numerous and continuous actions of litigation to block it from convening its Congress as a strategy that is part of a broader agenda to destroy the party. This is more so because COPE is seen as the party that presents the greatest threat to the one party dominance that has characterized the South African political landscape to date. The concerted attempts to defraud the party coffers and other actions by ‘so called members of COPE' that have brought the name of the Party into disrepute are all part of that same strategy.

The determination with which COPE, in spite of being labelled as collaborators, is working with other opposition parties in areas where there is commonality of thought has suddenly made the possibility of an alternative government in our country which only yesterday seemed distant and dim to be closer and vivid. This new approach in our country's opposition politics is creating an even greater threat to the status quo where the ruling alliance would remain dominant with a weak, disorganised and divided opposition.

As leaders and members of the Congress of the People we are acutely aware of our momentous calling to contribute to building ours into an inclusive and accountable constitutional democracy. No amount of subversion will therefore deter us from fulfilling this historic responsibility, especially now when our country needs us most.

The litigation and other strategies that have been aimed at destabilising COPE since its inception have failed in the past as judgment after judgment the Congress of the People has prevailed and been vindicated. There is no doubt that this time too, the Congress of the People will, in the long term, prevail and continue to prepare itself to contest the 2014 general elections united, disciplined and ready to govern.

We call on all our members our Party to exercise utmost discipline and patience as we walk this final trying stretch towards Congress together. We equally call on fellow South Africans to register as voters so that our voices can be heard.

We also remind all of us to exercise our right to vote with a sense of duty and vision. Our country needs each and everyone of us today because a prosperous and bright future for all the children of South Africa depends on our actions of today, not only those of yesterday, no matter how heroic.

Statement issued by COPE (Lekota) Acting SG, Lyndall Shope-Mafole, September 22 2012

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