STAFF REPORTER
COPE President Mosiuoa Lekota has dismissed rumours he was unable to perform his duties following his suspension from the party earlier this week.
Lekota told a media briefing at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg that he’s still fit to lead the organisation despite being diagnosed with cancer.
A scuffle broke out during the press conference where Lekota, the party’s national chairperson Teboho Loate, acting secretary-general Eric Mohlapamaswi, and other members of congress national committee (CNC) gave a report on the outcomes of the party’s meeting at the weekend.
A shaken Lekota had to be whisked away from angry party members who disrupted the press conference, punched and kicked other members aligned to Lekota faction.
Lekota told the press conference that he was not going to the grave anytime soon.
“I am not going to the grave. I am sorry I am not going to the grave,” he said.
Lekota also announced the suspension of deputy president Willie Madisha, secretary for communications Dennis Bloem, and secretary for elections, Mzwandile Hleko.
Loate, the party’s national chairperson, rubbished the Cope president’s suspension.
“The media briefing and the press statement issued today, Monday 29 August 2022, by the deputy president, Willie Madisha, was a hasty and desperate attempt to save his own skin, and those of his clique, and to try to confuse the public by spreading falsehoods,” said Loate in a media statement.
“The president of Cope, comrade Mosiuoa Lekota, remains active and competent to lead the party and serve as its leader in Parliament. He has the confidence and full support of the CNC [congress national committee], as reaffirmed by the meeting on 20 August 2022.”
Bloem described scenes at the media briefing convened by suspended president on Wednesday as “painful”.
Cope has been marred by divisions since the leadership battle between Lekota and the party’s co-founder Mbhazima Shilowa.
The battles resulted in dwindling popularity and the party cascading from 30 seats in the National Assembly following the 2009 general elections to just two after the 2019 polls.
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