Statement by the Congress of the People on the interdict granted against former member Mbhazima Shilowa today
Mbhazima Shilowa can no longer misrepresent himself as President, or even an ordinary member of the Congress of the People. This follows a High Court Interdict granted in favour of the Cope, recognizing the expulsion of Shilowa and interdicting him from further misrepresenting himself as having any standing in the party whatsoever. He is also interdicted from approaching the party's bank to try to interfere with the business of the party.
Justice Watt-Pringle today ruled this in favour of COPE with costs to be carried by Shilowa.
Shilowa had begun to misrepresent himself as the President of Cope following an unrepresentative meeting outside the hall at the aborted at the Cope Elective Conference in Tshwane in December 2010, attended by a very small group of followers, most of whom had played an active role in violently disrupting the proceedings of the congress.
This brings the number of court cases that Shilowa has lost since May 2010 to nine in total. The litigious nature of the former Cope member has not helped his cause in the least, with costs being awarded to COPE on 8 of these occasions.
With the factional activity of Shilowa no longer a stumbling block to progress within the organization, COPE can now prepare for the upcoming local government elections free of his destructive influence.
Shilowa may yet face an investigation of money laundering and fraud by the Hawks, but as far as Cope is concerned, this ruling decisively casts Shilowa out in the political wilderness. Further disciplinary hearings will be conducted into the conduct of other members who had done everything in their power to criminally derail the progress of the organization.
As Shilowa is now no longer entitled to his seat as an MP, the next CNC will deliberate on filling his seat in the National Assembly. If Shilowa attends the fake CNC meeting convened in the Western Cape Legislature tomorrow, he will be in contempt of court.
Statement issued by Phillip Dexter, Congress of the People, February 11 2011
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